Kenya’s internal and national democracy is under direct threat from within its political leadership over the issue of the ICC and The Hague. The level to which the matter has been treated is increasingly raising questions about the nation’s cohesion, reconciliation and political stability.The culprits are the politicians. Figure this out: “We will not allow ourselves to be killed just because we do not follow our leaders. Those who fail to do this, we will follow them to their homes and expose them as the ones who are betraying us. We will say ‘See, this person is the one who is failing to work with us.”
These are the remarks attributed to Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta just before he was enthroned as Kikuyu Elder and King of the Agikuyu on Sunday March 27, 20011. Without consulting, he claimed to have been giving the allegedly Kikuyu position on The Hague and the post 2012 politics. Through their whirlwind ventures across the country, politicians have unprecedentedly personalised and ethnicised the ICC process.
The Deputy Prime Minister appears to trash the benefits accruing for Kenyans from the new constitution pertaining to the sovereignty of the people, regardless of whether they are Kikuyus or members of other communities.
Central for United Kenya which fosters reconciliation and co-existence between Central Province communities and the rest of Kenya, finds such statements irresponsible and incredible especially coming from person of a Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance.
He and other politicians are perpetrating the myth that every community has to have a leader to look after its interest. Who will look out for the interests of every Kenyan? Poverty, poor health care, poor infrastructure and other serious issues facing our country don’t discriminate on the basis of tribe. These problems afflict us all. Why can’t our political leaders emulate our athletes who represent Kenya irrespective of tribe.
Kenyans have experienced how low the politics of ethnic division has taken them. It is time they made a stand for the future by ignoring the politicians and start thinking and acting as Kenyans first. If we fail in this, our much anticipated progress will remain a pipe.
Uhuru should realise that it is not the Gikuyu community which has been charged by the ICC. He will be going to The Hague as a person. He will not appear there as the Agikuyu King or Elder. His defence will and should be personal and not communal. The case is not between the Agikuyu and Ocampo. And it is certainly not between the Agikuyu and Raila Odinga.
The ICC should not be ethniciced. It is not about Kikuyus, Kalenjins, Merus, Luos, Somalis, Kisiis etc. It is about six individuals who have been summoned to answer charges by the ICC.
It is shocking that Uhuru is making such divisive statements when members of the Agikuyu and others still live in camps as IDPs. These people are still yearning for justice and compensation, three years later. Despite Uhuru’s new found friendship with William Ruto, these victims of the PEV are still unable to go back home forcing the government to buy them land elsewhere, against new resistance from other communities.
Progressive minded politicians, professionals and religious leaders should soldier on and keep reminding Kenyans of the need to ignore the divisive talk and perservere to look for quality leaders and not leaders of geo-political and ethnic zones.
Kenyans need to remember the admonition of Martin Luther King, Jr. to America during the civil rights struggle: “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.”
Kenyans should not continue to feign ignorance of the dangers of ethnic politics in the country. It’s inimical to growth and incendiary in nature. They should not sit on the criticizing and pointing fingers at people toiling selflessly for a better tomorrow. They should be ready to go that extra mile for a better Kenya —a country that sees less of ethnicity.
But Kenyans can only do this if they trust their leaders who must create an enabling environment where harmony will flourish in the face of constructive dialogue. Our leaders should bear in mind exhortion by Martin Luther King Jr when he appealed to the American people saying: “Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective.”
It should not matter where a leader comes from; as long as one possesses the best skills set to lead us. We should focus on ideas and issues and not on personality and ethnicity. We should respect the leadership and be good followers. That does not mean that opposition or contrary opinion is unhealthy for a nation like Kenya. Opposition is a critical component of democracy. Constructive criticism must be allowed at all times.
The author David Kigochi is the National Convenor, Central for United Kenya (CUK)
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