Is there hope for Kenya?

This morning I went to buy a loaf of bread from the mama across the street and she greeted me in my mother-tongue. I replied in Swahili – I often do this. As she counted the change due to me, she made a scathing attack on members of a particular ethnic group and how in her opinion, they think that her ethnic group does not matter. I did not comment. I simply took the cash and wished her a good day.

On another occasion this week, we were caught up in Nairobi's traffic and a young man came by selling sweets and groundnuts and when he had left, my companion in the car made a remark about the young man’s ethnic group. According to my companion, this particular group of people had infiltrated the country and was now merchandising everything they could to the detriment of others in society. Since the handing over of the famous envelope to Luis Moreno-Ocampo, I have heard numerous theories about the list, but the most laughable one was one where my friend stated that he was sure members of a particular community would find their way to The Hague and influence any decisions to be made. He spoke with such authority that I almost believed him!

These three incidences have stirred me to the reality of Kenya’s polarised state. It is not just the local mama by the roadside that is caught up in falsehoods and stereotypes that have resulted in enmity amongst us as a people, but also highly educated professionals who should in essence be the voice of reason. This seems like a 'tired' topic but I am deeply worried as to where we are headed as a nation. In all my years I never side-lined anyone because of his or her tribe, especially considering my profession that calls for equal treatment of everyone. However, in the past six months or so, I am getting scared as I listen to comments from family and friends alike. We who never believed in polarisation are now standing on the threshold of being narrow-minded and judging others on the basis of their ethnicity.

The politicians are at it again: Stating that any form of justice meted out to the perpetrators of post-election violence will stir up fresh violence. These statements are being made in the politicians’ constituencies and I am wondering how much more do they say that is not reported in the press? Some have been known to utter statements in their local dialects and God knows what they tell their constituents! The common man has picked up this argument and one does not need to be a prophet to gauge where all this talk is headed to. Since when did one man’s sins become a community’s sins? I marvel at us, the common man. While we were busy hacking one another to death and taking cover in fear, our politicians’ families were well-secured, with some out of the country away from the danger of machetes and bullets. As we continue to side-line others because of their ethnic backgrounds, our politicians embrace and laugh together, enjoy the perks of being high and mighty together, their children go to the best private schools here and abroad, with most enjoying the benefits of wining and dining together. In fact, Kenya’s parliament is 'tribeless'; ethnicity issues only arise when the members of parliament visit their constituents or when one of their own is perceived to be at risk of losing the glamour that comes with the position of honourable MP.

Is there any hope for Kenya? Can we get out of this dungeon in which we now find ourselves? How can we begin to empower the common man and woman to use reason and not listen to his or her politician? What can we do to teach Kenyans that if politician A paid some fifty boys Kshs. 5000 each to hack members of a certain community to death, then the politician should carry his own cross? Civil society is as polarised as the society it is supposed to reach out to. So who then is our hope? It begins with you and me as responsible members of society. Can we be bold enough to silence the little snide remarks made in our presence? I think we can; firmly and patiently until we begin to see the beauty that each individual contributes to the diversity that is Kenya and Africa and the world at large. Imagine if we were all one tribe in the world – how boring! We need one another and it begins with appreciating that each one of us has a role to play in making this nation a beautiful nation. No one ethnic group can take this nation to its great heights without the support of the others. The sooner we realise this, the better for us and the generations to come.

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* Lucy Simiyu is a counselling psychologist by profession. She is currently pursuing an MSc in Organisational Development at the United States International University – Africa in Nairobi, Kenya.
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