Hi Wazuans,

Over the last few days, I have noticed that ethnic hatred and bigotry has really increased. Most conversations in the streets, offices and even online have resulted to ethnic bashing and blaming. I feel lost in the middle of these melees and I feel that as a society, we are eons before we can even claim to be a mature democracy.

My situation
I was born into a family where both my parents come from the Luo and the Kikuyu communities. Most of my life has been spent in Nairobi. My formative education years were spent in schools with global and cultural diversity, where one language was spoken throughout my schooling years.
I cannot speak any of the two languages but I can make out some words here and there.

I’ve tried to collect reasons from my relatives especially, why they voted the way they did. It’s not surprising that the voting patterns mimicked the national ones. They are as follows:
• Luo relatives- at last one of their own gets to be on the top seat. Others are, massive development projects initiated back “home”, employment opportunities and business contracts.
• Kikuyu relatives- we’ll be “finished” if RAO and his people get into government. People will take over businesses that we have built over the years, not pay for goods and services, loss of employment and giving of business contracts to “others”.

My deduction is that most of the people who voted for JUBILEE, CORD and AMANI had most of the reasons outlined above. The average Kikuyu voter didn’t vote for RAO not because they hate him but because of the fear and uncertainty that he portends to bring. The majority of the other average voters who voted for RAO/Mdvd voted for the hope and promise that even one of their own could ascend to the top seat.

Burning questions
What is the way forward for our country? Why should one of our own be voted in? Do we as a community or even as a person gain from the “choosing our own” mentality?
Where does this ethnic hatred and bigotry come from and what are the solutions?

Please Note:
My intentions from this thread are to objectively discuss ways we can de-tribalize the electoral process, government institutions and demystify tribal stereotypes. I hope we can contribute in a calm and sober way. I also hope that as the posts are unfolding, we can get to know reasons why some of us voted the way we did especially from the supporters of the main protagonists. We need to create a new Kenya, a country devoid of this ethnicity. Where everyone views the other as brother and sister and not by their ethnic background.



Again let us be sober and avoid nasty situations. Kenyans are polarized. Look at such posts on facebook to get a feel.

@mwariama - Thank you for having the courage to speak up.I will try to share my thoughts on this.

Tribalism,racism,classim...isms...are problems plaguing our world.We have to realize that we are one.The world is one,it knows no nations,no tribes,races,class or sex.We are all neighbors together in a world suspended in the nothingness of space.

They serve to divide us and thus be conquered.We have lost our identity as a human race,a global community with a common ancestry. Those in power use and will continue to do this to carve power for themselves and blind us from the power we the people have.

The fault doesn't lie with those in power as much as it lies with the individuals.Life is hard and we look for things to blame for this hardship.As humans we are also weak and we also seek excuses for not being better than we aspire to be.

Tribalism is one of this avenues.We choose to divide against race,tribes,sex and such to create an enemy.The enemy justifies the anger and hatred.It is also an attempt to create stability in our lives,that is,to know where we stand.Us against them.We also like to aggregate to feel secure.

It boils down to ignorance and seeking scapegoats. I don't want to say this but it is the truth.There are only two ways out of hate: either we shift our focus to unity,peace and harmony or blood will flow in the streets.This is not only locally but globally.

The solution is just as hard because the power lies with the individual.Even if we educate the masses,people will still perceive what they want to.Assuming education works out,people will still seek scapegoats.

The best solution I can give is that of example.Don't lead by example,live it.Don't wait for someone else to change.Live what you want to see.From there I can only hope people will see the goodness in it and learn from you.I can also hope they will find courage in seeing someone living life outside tribal lines and the goodness it brings.Although you should expect people to also hate,because some people don't want to let go.They won't be left with any excuses.

Lets work with individualism.If you are thinking of yourself and your interests you will choose the best option that can satisfy them.If those who believe tribalism is a solution,then it means nationalism is even better and humanism the best for the same benefits are conferred at a larger scale.

Sovereignty and freedom are in both the individual and the community.

Persons are points of consciousness, amid relationships. The key is self consciousness and identity.

Evidently, the individual is a point in a network(s). A tribe is a set of networks that is differentiated from others.

Tribalism is the reliance on a single network for identity, and the meeting of existential needs even when other tribes are involved.

This means we need to extend networks, and offer a wide range of opportunities to meet existential needs.

Education must now be focused on how one can meet his needs in an extended network.

Food For thought :Apply to Kenyans and their tribes

“The Cold Within” by James Patrick Kinney: Poem.

The Cold Within

Six humans trapped by happenstance
In bleak and bitter cold.

Each one possessed a stick of wood
Or so the story’s told.
Their dying fire in need of logs

The first man held his back
For of the faces round the fire
He noticed one was black.

The next man looking ‘cross the way
Saw one not of his church
And couldn’t bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.

The third one sat in tattered clothes.
He gave his coat a hitch.
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?

The rich man just sat back and thought
Of the wealth he had in store
And how to keep what he had earned
From the lazy shiftless poor.

The black man’s face bespoke revenge
As the fire passed from his sight.
For all he saw in his stick of wood
Was a chance to spite the white.

The last man of this forlorn group
Did nought except for gain.
Giving only to those who gave
Was how he played the game.

Their logs held tight in death’s still hands
Was proof of human sin.
They didn’t die from the cold without
They died from the cold within.

Whatever the outcome in the Supreme Court, and the events thereafter, we will face the challenges of stopping the animosity amongst us, and implementing policies that will promote a new and integrating culture.

So far, we must remember that there's an acute need for ways and means of owning property, generating wealth and enjoying life.

Let us create sustainable inter and cross county events that will foster a new sense of identity.

Relationships will change due to the demands and privileges of mutualism.

Let us ask government bodies to open their doors to their citizens via cyberspace so that the individual may participate in day to day government activities.

Let us create social products that will transform the education sector. Let use social media as 'class rooms' to transform ourselves and promote peace by extending forgiveness and healing to others.

hello tycho. long time. what do you suggest your role will be in all this?

Speaking and doing.

Touché tycho, touché.