Ethnic Stereotypes Are Dangerous
(Press Statement Issued at 11.00 am at 680 Hotel on 1st September 2009)
As a new generation of Kikuyus we are being forced to tackle ethnic perceptions that have developed over the years through manipulation of the issues, actions & politics of a few Kikuyus, to look like these were Kikuyu community positions. This led to our community been branded a certain way based on the actions and presentation of a few Kikuyus, a branding that played a supporting role in the slaughter of our tribesmen in various parts of the country in 2007/2008, and that has made it extremely complicated to deal with issues of historical injustice, resource allocation inequalities, and community socio-political leadership deficiencies in the Kikuyu community.
We find it extremely frustrating to keep trying to explain that we are not like so & so, just because we are Kikuyus. We also face great unbelief when we try to explain that some of our rural homes do not have electricity, or water, or tarmacked roads, etc; or that we have family in areas in Central where there is famine, or that there are poor people in our areas, or that not all Kikuyu youth are Mungiki, etc.
Kikuyusforchange is about the danger of ethnic stereotypes, and as we strive to slay the dragon of negative ethnicity, we have come to the realization that we must not only tackle the wrong perception of kikuyus as it currently exists, but also the process that has led us to this position today. We are therefore determined to speak out against not just misrepresentation of our community, but also against any process that seeks to isolate or ‘demonize ‘ any community as a whole, because of the mistakes of a few, as has been done to us
KikuyusforChange therefore takes great take exception to the increasing tendency to blame the Kalenjin as a community, for what in reality are decisions and positions of certain individual amongst them. We are especially concerned when we see media editorials & public sentiment that seems to indicate that the Kalenjin as a community, are the perpetrators of PEV, or that, as a community, they are destroying the Mau Forest, or that they are the source of discontentment on coalition governance issues.
As victims of negative ethnic stereotypes we know how dangerous it is to a community when ethnic bashing becomes a political tool, and as Kenyans we have all seen how destructive it is to our country’s nationhood. The fact is that the Kalenjins as a community, are as innocent over the Mau forest grabbing as the Kikuyus as a community were, of any election malpractice in the 2007 general elections. Both actions were carried out by individuals & for their own interests.
It is also a fact that any attempts to say the Kikuyu community were behind the election fiasco then, or that the Kalenjins as the community are responsible for the destruction of the Mau today, only confuse the process of getting to the individuals liable for the respective national disasters. Yesterday it was the Kikuyu, today it is the Kalenjin – which community will be blamed the next time there is a national crisis?
In the midst of all this confusion individuals are getting away with all manner of crimes, from murder, to rape, land grabbing, corruption, etc.
What Must be done:
All of us as Kenyans must hold individual political leaders accountable directly for their statements and actions. We are therefore challenging each Kenyan to resist the temptation of generalizing issues on a tribal context. Let us name those we have an issue with, and ensure that communities are not punished, ostracized or isolated, for the sake of individuals. Let us agree that the failures of individuals are their own, and do not represent what that individual’s community is, and that no-one should try to depict it as such.
To ALL our politicians, we challenge you to nationalize issues and make decisions on what is best for the country. Stop tribal supremacy wars and please make sure that each decision you make, and each position you take, is driven by the desire to do the greater good for the greater population of Kenyans. This must be the determining factor as you save the Mau, figure out how to punish perpetrators of Post Election Violence as well as how to handle the victims of this blot in our history, especially the IDPs. Ditto for the Reform Agenda, new constitution & boundaries review. You must always remember that this is our country, and that the positions you hold are held in trust.
Finally, for those of us in positions of influence, let us use whatever platform and influence we have wherever we are, to push the message that people must be held personally accountable for mistakes, crimes or bad decisions.
If we all play our part then we will be on the road to rebuilding our nation.
September 3rd, 2009 at 5:58 am
In as much as I would applaud your initiative, I do have serious concerns as to whether much thought has gone into the sociopolitical message you seek to impart.
Firstly, why the “kikuyusforchange” label? Granted, your members may share the same ethnic background, but in my opinion you are only perpetuating the same tribal packaging that Kenyans have seen over the years. Is this not stereotyping per se? Regardless of the agenda your organization has, or purports to have, why shouldn’t Kenyans view “kikuyusforchange” as an attempt at introducing a new generation GEMA? After all, your choice of members automatically excludes the rest of the 41 peoples of our country.
The root cause of Kenya’s woes is not tribalism, but poverty and ignorance. Tribalism is but a by-product since this is the only way Kenyans can identify with each other. People tend to cling onto the familiar (read tribe) when the going gets tough and rough. That Kenyan politicians take advantage of this phenomenon is not surprising since the political elite in Kenya are parasitical in nature. By playing on ignorance and “we are poor and suffer because that tribe exists” type of tripe, they have managed to perfect and strengthen their hold onto to both political and economic power. To ask them to desist using the tribal card in their aspirations to even greater power, is like asking a tick to stop looking for hosts on which to feed. The tick must feed or perish. Let us not be hypocrites or stop our heads in the sand like the Ostrich. Kenya has two tribes, the haves and the have-nots. There’s no middle ground.
In my opinion, our quest as Kenyans should be to educate and fight poverty at the grass-root level. By doing so, especially if we do so multi-ethnically, we will crash the myths of tribal supremacy and inferiority. How to best go about this is anyone’s guess and I would not be so presumptuous as to claim that I have all the answers. But the truth is out there and the dream can be reality. It’s just the other day a man captured the imagination of the world by his call of “Yes we can”. Dare we tread where he has trodden? Follow in his nyayo (footsteps)?
Therefore my unsolicited advice to you brethren of “kikuyusforchange” is to regroup and revaluate your message to Kenya. May you strive to and show us the way to become Kenyans for Change.
Milton Muigai
October 26th, 2009 at 1:58 am
we only need to be human enough and see each other as brothers and sister rather than tribe-minded. once all human perceive each other in this sense the demon controlling our mindsets with regard to tribalism will vanish. it a call for all of us to embrace peace, love and humanity with almighty GOD BEING OUR ONLY GUIDE in this rough-terrained and evil infested world.