Ethnic Card Does Not Apply Anymore

Ethnic Card Does Not Apply Anymore

WEDNESDAY, 22 AUGUST 2012 12:46 BY HUSSEIN MOHAMMED

A popular Kiswahili adage says: Mjinga akierevuka, mwerevu huwa mashakani. Paraphrased, it means when the perceived fool finally unravels the truth, the teacher is in danger. Kenyans are waking up to new politics: peddlers of negative ethnicity beware. Ethnicity itself is a good thing: it denotes a group of people with a shared culture, values, heritage and language.

It’s a part of who we are; an integral part of our identity. In its simplest form, negative ethnicity is a deliberate propagation of conscious biasness, prejudice, and stereotyping against anyone who does not belong to one’s ethnic group. Negative ethnicity thrives on a sustained effort at creating ethnic enemies in a misguided attempt at self preservation.

Since the introduction of the multi-party politics in the early 1990s, negative ethnicity has been a hot commodity among the political elite in galvanizing political support and advancing self interest. All manner of lies have been peddled to communities by political leaders in the name of “ethnic progress” and survival.

Parties have been formed along ethnic lines ostensibly to ensure certain communities are not locked out of political power and /or government. Ethnic nepotism has become a fashionable practice in our institutions in the name of “ensuring our people get a share of the national cake”. Ethnic violence has found a chilling justification in the name of protecting community territories from perceived “foreigners”, as witnessed in 2008.

But now the Constitution has brought a renewed consciousness among Kenyans on their entitlement as citizens of this country. Indeed, the Constitution starts by affirming Kenya’s ethnic diversity: “We the people of Kenya are PROUD of our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, and determined to live in peace and unity as one indivisible

Political opportunists who have been using the ethnic trump cards to advance their political interest will find it very hard to sell their selfish agenda. The Constitution now guarantees access to basic essential services such as clean water, health facilities, education and security for all Kenyans under the Bill of Rights.

The next government must fulfill this mandate to the people. The Equalization Fund will be the new passport for marginalized communities to catch up with the more developed regions, therefore vanquishing the fear of political alienation by government for voting on non-ethnic lines.

In addition, any ethnic group that feels reasonably sidelined by the government of the day can go to court and seek for an order of mandamus to compel the government to fulfill its obligations to the citizens. The demagogues who hoodwinked communities to vote for them in exchange for mafia-style protection have been rendered useless by the new Constitution: the Bill of Rights gives express powers to Kenyans to reside and own property anywhere in this country.

The Commission on Revenue Allocation which is tasked with sharing the national resources proportionately and in accordance with the law will take care of ethno-regional interests. This empowerment of the people by the Constitution spells liberation for the people of Kenya.Where we saw Kenyans from other ethnic groups as rivals, we can now start seeing them as brothers putting Kenya on the global competitive landscape.

In our institutions, the Kenyans who used to be the unenviable recipients of our ethnic hatred must now be seen as worthy colleagues in a concerted effort to promote institutional efficiencies. The same way we cheer on our Gold Medalists while they are on the international track, is the same zeal with which we must appreciate Mr. Cheruiyot and Miss Okello, the high school teachers in Nyeri, Meru and Malindi.

Elections are politically charged processes, often with negative ethnic innuendos. We have witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of ethnic animosity. Did we learn? We still hear politicians saying so-and-so should not be voted for this position because they come from a particular ethnic group, or that this seat must go to our community. What happened to merit? What happened to fair competition? Are we so devoid of political ideologies that we must sell negative ethnicity? African states remain politically and economically fragile due to unnecessary ethnic tensions and polarization.

The Rwanda Genocide and the war in Darfur are sad reminders of negative ethnicity. We must embrace our ethnic diversity and build a Greater Kenya for us and our children. sovereign Nation...and are COMMITTED to nurturing and protecting the well-being of the individual, the family, communities and the nation...”

Hussein Mohammed is Chief Campaign Manager, Martha Karua 2012 Secretariat & Chair to the Board, Youth Agenda