Kenyans must stop digging tribal hole now

Unpalatable as it may be, we must strongly condemn the increasing balkanization of Kenya into ethnic fiefdoms as we prepare for elections that would usher in the fourth President.

Whether such initiatives come cloaked as political alliances, cultural associations or prayer rallies, they stand condemned and must be shunned by all patriotic and right-thinking citizens.

The flashing strobe light from the tribal card is the dreaded Joker in the elections pack as many politicians start to fuel ethnic animosities and stir tribal loyalties that could potentially make the violence that followed the December 2007 general election a Sunday school affair.

So real are the telltale signs that serious concerns over the likely course of the upcoming general elections dominated the people’s conference on National Diversity, Race and Ethnicity at Kenyatta International Conference Centre last week.

Candid discussions from various leaders including the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Equal Opportunity, Nominated MP Mohamed Affey, various senior Government officials and development partners such as United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative Aeneas Chuma and the Committee on the Implementation of the Constitution marked Kenya’s frankest discourse on the evils of tribalism.

Various presidential election contenders routinely brag of the “solid” phalanx of their tribesmen ahead of polling day. They only seem interested in what alliances their tribes can enter into so as to ensure supremacy in numbers.

These alliances have been around in a variety of names and catchy acronyms, but the bottom-line is that their aim is retrogressive.

When commentators refer to Orange Democratic Movement Raila Odinga’s chances of bagging the top seat, there is the unuttered assumption that his entire tribe will vote for him to the man.

All they are yet to determine is who could deliver to him a Kalenjin, Luhya, Kisii or Miji Kenda running mate to shore up the numbers.

In a mirror situation, Kanu’s Uhuru Kenyatta is seen as fighting for the seat from a position of strength, assuming the Gema grouping votes en bloc. His handlers, too, seem only keen to identify a partner to shore up the numbers.

Ditto United Republican Party’s William Ruto, Wiper Democratic Movement’s Kalonzo Musyoka and ODM’s Musalia Mudavadi.

LOFTY PLATFORMS

That is why NCIC Chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia’s plea to the aforesaid conference: “Reversing these issues would require courage. It would not be easy and that is why we are calling upon leaders of courage to help us out.” He fears that most counties will invariably become tribal cocoons despite the best efforts of the newly created Ethnic and Racial Relations Policy aimed at creating harmony.

Indeed, Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo rightly pointed out that: “We have neglected the need to build bridges between communities for long. Ethnic divisions and misunderstanding indicate that our sense of cohesiveness is not as strong.”