The remarks attributed to Housing minister Soita Shitanda that Kikuyu and Kalenjin will never work together politically (The Star, November 14) are unfortunate. They are particularly disturbing coming from a Cabinet minister.
The minister needs to know that the two communities have been living together in harmony for a very long time. When politics of hate is not at play, the communities have been doing a lot of things together without caring about their tribal backgrounds. They go to church together, their children go to the same schools and they share each other’s joys and sorrows.
However this tranquillity is always rudely interrupted during elections by such ill-considered sentiments as those made by Shitanda. Why would he want to sour the relationship between communities still smarting from the 2007/08 post-election violence?
It is sad that politics, which should be the means to strengthen inter-community bond and spur development, is used as a spark to ignite conflicts.
When highly-profile people in government seem to revel in the animosity between Kenyans, we need to ask ourselves when did the rain start beating us this hard. How did we sink to such irredeemably low level of moral decadence?
The question that Shitanda needs to ponder is why violence usually occur just before, during and after elections. There is no prize for guessing why. It is because politicians, who are out to attain power at all costs, whip up tribal sentiments.
We expect the minister, given his stature in the society, to be instrumental in bringing together feuding Kenyans. He ought to know that ethnic animosity corrodes a nation and greatly hampers development.
The chaos in Rift Valley following the last general election is a scar in the conscience of the nation and our instincts should be to preach peace at every opportunity. But apparently leaders have learnt absolutely nothing from this sad chapter.
Shitanda seems not only happy that there is a bad blood between the two communities but he wants to capitalise on this for selfish political gain.
When animosity is rife between communities, it is the responsibility of leaders to find a solution. However, in Kenya, the reverse seems to be true. We have leaders who are too eager to widen the divide between communities if that will provide them with the ticket to power.
Every time we make headway in reconciling Kenyans, some reckless politicians pull the rug from under our feet. And we wonder why peace seems elusive?
Those who are concerned with integrity of leaders should no think that their work is just to focus on mind-boggling corruption scams. Such seemingly innocuous statements speak to the character of leaders. Is Mzalendo Kibunjia listening?
For lasting peace to prevail, Kenyans must not only ignore insensitive politicians they must weed them out at the ballot. That way, we will have a cadre of leaders who will conduct civil politics whose central objective is prosperity for all Kenyans.
The writer comments on topical issues.
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