Why do us Kenyans feel the need to affiliate ourselves SO much to our tribes? Cultural heritage/appreciation is wonderful but it becomes hugely problematic when it starts to seep into our businesses, relationships etc and the biggest one right now..POLITICS.
Living in the diaspora for a while, I meet so many Kenyans from all corners and everyone gets along so/relatively well regardless of tribe. And so when I visit home..I almost feel like a ka tourist because I feel inundated with tribal this..tribal that...and it becomes nauseating and suffocating.
Let me say, exposure and having the capacity to reevaluating one's assumptions/bias is VERY important. Learning to see humanity beyond the language we speak, the region we hail from is paramount if we are to become united as one country, one people. When the US embassy and Westgate attacks happened...you see how people come together to help out, no matter what tribe one was from. Folks need to really sit down and think about the toxicity that festers within us every time we look down upon someone because of their tribe.
Participating in boycotts will not get rid of tribalism. Voting along tribal lines will not get rid of tribalism. Kenyan politicians use this as a weapon for "divide and conquer" to get their vote so that they can line their pockets and we seem to always fall for it over and over again. Yet, it is only the common mwanainchi choking on tear gas in the streets, getting their shops looted and destroyed or even loosing their precious lives. Screw this Tialala maneno or Muthamaki nonsense. Being ignorant or incognisant of how perpetuating tribalism (and consequently corruption) within our families, businesses, friendships and political affiliations WILL bring us ALL to our knees. Start these conversations at home...ask these hard questions.
Our country's founders pinpointed POVERTY, IGNORANCE and DISEASE as issues to eliminate in order to achieve this nation's great potential. We have barely hacked away at these from the 1960s and people are thinking of Kenya as being an African superpower by 2030. Ha!
WAKE UP KENYA!
Living in the diaspora for a while, I meet so many Kenyans from all corners and everyone gets along so/relatively well regardless of tribe. And so when I visit home..I almost feel like a ka tourist because I feel inundated with tribal this..tribal that...and it becomes nauseating and suffocating.
Let me say, exposure and having the capacity to reevaluating one's assumptions/bias is VERY important. Learning to see humanity beyond the language we speak, the region we hail from is paramount if we are to become united as one country, one people. When the US embassy and Westgate attacks happened...you see how people come together to help out, no matter what tribe one was from. Folks need to really sit down and think about the toxicity that festers within us every time we look down upon someone because of their tribe.
Participating in boycotts will not get rid of tribalism. Voting along tribal lines will not get rid of tribalism. Kenyan politicians use this as a weapon for "divide and conquer" to get their vote so that they can line their pockets and we seem to always fall for it over and over again. Yet, it is only the common mwanainchi choking on tear gas in the streets, getting their shops looted and destroyed or even loosing their precious lives. Screw this Tialala maneno or Muthamaki nonsense. Being ignorant or incognisant of how perpetuating tribalism (and consequently corruption) within our families, businesses, friendships and political affiliations WILL bring us ALL to our knees. Start these conversations at home...ask these hard questions.
Our country's founders pinpointed POVERTY, IGNORANCE and DISEASE as issues to eliminate in order to achieve this nation's great potential. We have barely hacked away at these from the 1960s and people are thinking of Kenya as being an African superpower by 2030. Ha!
WAKE UP KENYA!
