I am sure we have all witnessed and can attest to the lack of visionary political leadership in Kenya at the moment as the country inches closer to an unprecedented civil war by day and night. While the nation's underlying tensions that sparked the violence have been brewing since independence, I take exception to point an accusing finger at the political leaders who failed to read the signs of time and with loose talk and selfish quest for power detonated the ticking time bomb instead of averting the disaster we witness today.The bubble was destined to burst one way or another, that much I CONCEDE, but did it have to be this barbaric? Did it mean that Kenyans, a traditionally peaceful, rational and friendly people resort to ethnic cleansing in the names of our political elite? I argue in the negative because elections are held around the world and in every election there are winners and losers. Fine, it is the winners who write history, but it is the responsibility of the losers to keep the winners on their toes and help the country grow politically, economically and socially.
Shame on our politicians for leading the nation down this dangerous path. YES Shame on you all. For the loose talk in the run up to and during the electioneering period, I say shame on the electorate for laying down all barriers of decency and pride and attacking our friends and neighbors in the name of tribal alliances. Shame on the people of Kenya who are participating, orchestrating or carrying out these armed attacks that kill our women and children.
Shame on the government of the day for borrowing the loose talk from their opponents and put their political futures ahead of the nation's interests and the security and welfare of its people. Shame on the losing coalition of parties for failing to utilize legal means to address their grievances, and resorting to cheap politics, hate mongering and inciting the masses.
Shame on you all who continue to attest the superiority of one tribe over another because it is not only cheap and undemocratic but goes against all the religious teachings all Kenyans profess.
Lastly, it is about time we realized that there is no reasonable defence except stupidity that can counter the impact of an idea whose time has come. The time is now that we must let charity begin at home. The time is now that we must stop referring to ourselves as is this or that tribe and can only co-exist or support members of my tribe alone. The time is now that we must stop exporting the cheap reasoning out of Kenya into diaspora and aligning ourselves along National or even tribal lines. The time is now that we must simply GROW UP and shun divisive politics as espoused by 'our founding father' who took the mantle from the colonial regime and passed the hatred along the generations.
The reconciliation that Kenya needs must start with YOU! We must learn to be decent human beings who respect one another and forget about our tribal affiliations and alliances.
Any efforts done at the national level that do not take into account that we as individuals are the root problem would be garbage, any successful efforts must begin with YOU!
