WE ARE ALL TO BLAME FOR TRIBALIZING KENYAN POLITICS

The closer Kenya approaches election-day, the higher the ugly head of tribalism soars and dominates our politics. Whereas discussing the dangers of tribal-politics in Kenya is a cliché synonymous to preaching to the choir, it is obvious that the progressive ideals that some of us purport to advocate are in clear contrast with the regressive practices that we readily embrace.

Firstly, we have our political leaders who loudly decry tribalism in public while in private they contrive the most heinous tribal schemes. I am talking about those who momentarily detribalize themselves for political expediency! I am talking about those who do not want to get to State House by taking the clear and paved national highway but prefer to travel through the thorny and meandering tribal back-roads! I am talking about those who claim to be the best equipped to exploit our national strengths but in their politicking they appeal to our tribal weaknesses. I am talking about those political leaders who do not bother to communicate their political mandate to the people because they are too busy telling us how tribal and conniving their political challengers have become. I am talking about those who pretend to be true Kenyan patriots but in reality they are Tribal first and Kenyan second!

Secondly, we have the Kenyan citizenry; men and women who have languished enormously under the yolk of tribalism. Based on our immense suffering, one would expect us, the people, to condemn and abhor any policy or practice that condones tribal profiting at the expense of national gain. However, it is perplexing that the Kenyan people are the enablers of tribalism. Sure, our political leaders are tribal in their actions, and we sometimes admonish them for it, but we only do so when their policies and actions don't favor our tribal interests. It is not because we care so much about our national wellbeing as a country. The tragedy lies in the false belief that for one tribe to eat a piece of the national cake another tribe must starve. This fallacy makes some of us to view Kenya as a nation made up of competing tribes making national unity a utopian fantasy.

Thirdly, we have the Kenyan elite. I am referring to the sophisticated and intellectual Kenyans who should know better. Although these pundits fully understand the limitations posed by tribal politics and can appreciate better national politics, they actively promote the culture of tribal politics. They often publish detailed articles and make long speeches supporting their own tribal leader over the other political candidates. Rarely, do they examine and expound on the merits or the demerits of the candidate's political mandate; instead they expend their effort concocting and advertising tribal formulas meant to usher their tribal leader into State House. Although based on their "superior" intellect they should be inclined to support national goals over tribal gratification, they choose to serve their tribal masters in hopes of being rewarded with plumb government jobs to satisfy their inflated egos.

Finally, all of us are to blame for tribal politics in Kenya! Our political leaders are to blame because they have failed miserably to inspire us with a uniting national vision. We, the people, are to blame because we consistently elect and celebrate tribal leaders who use our ignorance to abuse, exploit and plunder the nation to the detriment of all. In fact, some of us are using a tribal scale to determine who would make the best national leader among our current presidential aspirants. Since most of us are restrained by blind tribal loyalty, we are not fully engaging our presidential aspirants in ideas and in policy. We are paying attention and heeding to the misguided advice of self-seeking pundits who are looking out only for themselves.

George Kyalo Mutua

Atlanta , GA, USA
kenyatimes@timesnews.co.ke