Kenya’s political landscape has for a long time been defined and factually based on the exegesis of tribalism or rather on negative ethnicity. Well, perhaps it is high time that we endeavor as Kenyans and particularly scholars of this time to find out if the political divisions in our country are based on tribalism or on elitism.
I’m for the latter. In as much as the dragon of tribalism is real, the effects of capitalism and its twin of elitism are silent but extensively and deeply salient. A bitter truth and harsh reality that we cannot run away from as human beings is the fact that political leadership will never be a poor man’s contest, but the poor will be used as objects for attaining political power. That is an effect of the sweet yet bitter ideological dispensation of capitalism.
The propagators and disciples of socialism and communism would rattle about and fight against capitalism and its consequential happenstances and effects altogether but they failed and they continue to fail and this is an affirmation that indeed the ideals of socialism are utterly utopic. No single state in the world has ever prospered on the wheels of socialism and communism, let alone in the Western, Asian and the American states, but even closer home in Tanzania.
A few days ago, two leaders of the Opposition, notably Hon. Raila Odinga and Hon. Moses Wetang’ula, were invited by President Uhuru Kenyatta for a luncheon at State House. At the House on the Hill, the Opposition figures interacted and were even pictured laughing heartily with their colleagues from the ruling Jubilee coalition.
This reminded me of the “you are on your own” statement and truly, Kenyans we are on our own. Why do you have to fight, cultivate hatred or even classify and/or profile members from certain ethnic communities as enemies? Have you ever seen a politician hurling a stone against another or even engaging in fist fights except for some dishonorable Members of County Assemblies?
As it is well known in the political circles, there are no permanent friends or enemies which are something that has perennially failed to percolate to the critical mass, including the much overrated Kenyan middle class. We should all be aware that at one time the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the Deputy President William Ruto were in the same party only for their political divergence to take place due to the prevailing political circumstances of that time not forgetting their political interests too. Before joining the Orange party, the Deputy President was with President Kenyatta in the independence party, KANU, with the former serving as the Secretary General whiles the latter being the Chairperson. It should also be recalled that the former Vice President, Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka was a key figure in the G7 movement before he teamed up with Mr. Odinga after being classified as politically irrelevant in the then political outfit.
Who would forget the existing ‘enmity’ between Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka or that between Dr. Boni Khalwale, the Bull Fighter, and Kalonzo Musyoka? The three are now close confidants. The purported existence of political enmity between the politicians is a fallacy with the enmity being a reality among the masses, taking shape in form of ethnic-based coalitions.
Way back in 2007/08 when we experienced post-election violence, the citizens are the ones who were directly affected by the skirmishes especially the middle class and the hoi polloi. When agitated Kenyans were up in arms fighting each other, the politicians were dining and wining together.
Such is the malignancy that upon issuance of cash handouts, hundreds and thousands of hirelings fill the streets to carry out demonstrations that are hardly peaceful or they are transported from far flung regions to attend political rallies. But again such individuals who are the heartthrob of the lowest socio-economic class cannot be solely blamed for falling victim to the predatory nature of the politicians; their economic situation pushes them and charges them. However, something that disgusts me to the root is the intellectual despondency depicted by such individuals. But again in politics there has to be a leader and followers who can exercise and exhibit their discipleship on grounds of ‘ideological’ extremism and blatant sycophancy.
In real terms, therefore, tribalism is mostly used by the politicians as a red herring to the extant political manacle of extreme capitalism and elitism. A large number of these politicians are business partners and if not, then they share many common interests. They are pragmatists of the divide and rule ideology. Eradicating such brand of politics can only be termed as aneurism because such an act calls for the political emancipation of the masses founded on sound, significant and tangible economic empowerment for if one is economically impoverished, so will his or her intellectual capacity be largely compromised with the end result being the exercise and depiction of mental slavery in form of backslapping.
This is in no way championing for the principles of socialism but calling for significant reduction in the inequality gap between the haves and the have not as there will never be an equal human society including Kenya. Do we need to alter our brand of politics? Certainly yes. We have an obligation as citizens to initiate a political culture that is constructive; development conscious politics. Take the responsibility or comprise Kenya’s posterity. The choice is yours.
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join