Sunday, March 23, 2014

Today I delve into the controversial subject of tribalism and address it as it is



Today I delve into the controversial subject of tribalism and address it as it is
BY MUSYOKA NGUI
Mama Kenya
Ooh! My beloved country Kenya, what have you become!
50 years after independence, you still classify your children along ethnic lines
I dare ask; do we have anything to celebrate when our tribal animosity is at its worst?
Dear motherland, why do you segregate some of your kids as less equal than others?
Do they belong to a lesser God?

Every decade end we conduct census not to plan but to strategize on how many we are
In order to use those numbers to bargain for political alliances
What is the future of the “small” communities?
Do they belong? Will they ever feel a sense of nationalism and inclusion?
Sure, Kenya is a big family; forty million and still counting

When a child is born it does not know its identity
Children play with each other regardless of their ethnic backgrounds
They do not hold back forgiveness if their fellow kids err
Should I say it is the Kenyan parent who imposes tribal identity to the child?
May be, may be not, but one thing is clear......
If we are to achieve true development we should look at all Kenyans as equal citizens
If we are to achieve sustainable development we ought to see each other as a brother not a bother
Only then will we claim to be happy children of one mother called Kenya.

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