Politicians should avoid propaganda that fuels tribalism

From discussions that followed Suna East MP Junet Mohammed’s comments in Kisii, it is obvious that politicians are hungry for anything that can inform a serious political propaganda war towards the 2022 elections. His comments might have been unfortunate but in my opinion his intentions were clear that he was wooing Nyanza residents to support their own just like others have done before. 

Most of those who have jumped on the comments to pursue a political narrative that ODM leader Raila Odinga cannot be trusted never said a thing when President Uhuru Kenyatta said ‘tunakula nyama wakimeza mate’ some time in 2016. They have also not said a thing about a list of demands drawn by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria including having 40 per cent of government positions for Mt Kenya.

Apart from the hypocrisy, there is need to guard against the danger of pursuing such narratives for short term political gains because its effects may last a generation and sustain stereotypes that have no basis. 

President Kenyatta’s ability to reach out is amazing. Besides the ICC process, his decision to reach out and run on a joint ticket with William Ruto contributed to the calmness in the Rift Valley during the 2013 elections. From incidences of 2007, anxiety among Kenyans towards the 2013 elections was at an all-time high particularly in the Rift Valley. For that reason, the first handshake involving Uhuru and Ruto was welcome.

Uhuru followed it up with his 2018 handshake with ODM leader Raila Odinga.  Everyone in Kenya at the time would agree that the political climate had become unpredictable and poisonous. There was a near split of the country into two factions; one supporting Uhuru and another supporting Raila.

This was made worse by the decision to swear in Raila as the people’s president. That is until that morning of handshake on the steps of Harambee House. No one expected it. Following that handshake, Uhuru had an easy time visiting the hotbed of Raila’s politics in Nyanza something he seemed to relish. 

While at it, Ruto worked hard to penetrate Mt Kenya region where he now enjoys near fanatical support. Raila is also slowly trying to endear himself to Mt Kenya. Politicians must thus avoid trying to create wedges between communities trying to depart from a poisoned past.

The writer is an anchor at Radio Maisha