KikuyusForChange

Introduction

Today power continues to be centered on the Presidency with limited checks and balances, resource allocation is skewed against marginalised communities, the Judiciary lacks independence and basic needs are not considered as human rights. The result is that impunity and corruption continue to reign; poverty and inequalities are further entrenched while violence is becoming a way of life in the country.

Politics is increasingly perceived as an exercise of attaining power for personal benefit rather than for public service. Ethnic groups are easy targets for mobilisation for these hurried and selfish political ventures. Political parties today are therefore simple election vehicles for aggregating voters into ethnic blocs. These ethnicised politics, for personal convenience, have reached their natural and catastrophic conclusion. Ethnic suspicion and hatred has reached a climax. Resultant bloodshed and political instability has caught the attention of the international community.

Kenya’s politics have swayed in different directions depending on the ethnic identity of the sitting President. Today, Kikuyus are visibly at the center of the ethnicised political arena. National political debate is examined through a narrow Kikuyu lens. The perceptions confirm increasing or vanquished Kikuyu dominance eliciting reactions, from other Kenyans, that range from hysteria and even triumph.

Kikuyus: As Perceived by Others

Kikuyus are perceived by other Kenyans as an arrogant economically dominant ethnic group that is also unscrupulous. Indeed the stereotype that Kikuyus are thieves has become entrenched across the country. Kikuyus are seen to have an economic advantage due to colonial advantages, corruption and nepotistic tendencies of the Kenyatta and Kibaki regimes. There is a fear of Kikuyu political and economic hegemony particularly in the Rift Valley. Many Kenyans have subsequently sworn that another Kikuyu cannot be President.

Political positions that emanate from Central Kenya are viewed with suspicion and paranoia. This Kikuyu hypersensitivity even causes irritation for some when the Kikuyu language is spoken in their presence. These views have created resentment and dehumanising references to Kikuyus in language that usually precedes genocide. For example, in 2008 the Kikuyus in Rift Valley were labelled as ‘madoadoa’ or spots. In a recent inter ethnic meeting, hosted by Kikuyus for Change, a participant from Western Kenya said that Kikuyu behaviour made others wonder if ‘these [Kikuyus] are really people’.

Kikuyus: As They Perceive Themselves

Kikuyus are individualistic and do not have widespread community aspirations. Entrepreneurship and wealth generation have become the most dominant cultural trait among Kikuyus. The first Kibaki term and its economic successes is seen by many Kikuyus as a demonstration of Kikuyu leadership. The Kibaki working nation still continues to appeal to these Kikuyus.

Kikuyus have been taken by surprise at the recent intense hostilities towards them and have generally have not internalised the meaning of these strong negative sentiments. These hostilities are often assumed, by many Kikuyus, to emanate from backward, envious and uninformed instincts. Kikuyus feel unfairly punished for doing the same things that others are doing e.g. voting for their own kinsmen.

Kikuyus generally tend to cope individually rather than as a group. Kikuyus who were directly affected by recent ethnic hostilities have picked themselves up and dusted themselves off to the extent that they could.

The Consequences of Clashing Perceptions

Widespread negative perceptions of Kikuyus have led to knee jerk reactions when a Kikuyu or Central Kenya public official is being discussed. There is widespread political determination to ensure Kikuyus never obtain an advantage over others for public sector resources including jobs. Kikuyu/Central Kenya public officials are often viewed as having obtained those positions unfairly.

Today, the critical agenda of public sector reforms is seen by many as an opportunity to primarily tame Kikuyu dominance. For example, there is strong resistance to the introduction of the universally accepted democratic principle of one-man-one-vote. This principle is seen to support the political domination of Kikuyus. Additionally, this ethnic oriented political life has caused growing income inequalities in Central province to be overlooked. Stark poverty, alcoholism and hopelessness is cruelly juxtaposed with great wealth on the hillsides of Mount Kenya. Mungiki, a militant political formation, has now developed into both a local and national security threat.

Finally, every general election, since the re-introduction of plural politics, has seen increased killings, injury and displacements of Kikuyus. This politically motivated violence has now drawn the attention of the International Criminal Court.

Overall, the consequence of these clashing viewpoints is suboptimal public sector choices, paralysis in the country’s public life, an unstable business environment and bloody conflict. The international community has intervened in Kenya’s political crisis and the country’s sovereignty is under threat.

Kikuyu Responses to the Political Crisis

(1)     Fight

This is the dominant response of Kikuyu politicians and it is only aggravating the political crisis. Kikuyu politicians hurriedly respond to issues often with arrogance that confirms the stereotypical thinking on Kikuyus.  Their statements almost always fail to illustrate shared aspirations with other Kenyan communities.  Some of these politicians go even further and make provocative statements in weekend political rallies. These provocative statements illustrate ignorance of the crisis the country finds itself in and the resultant negative consequences for Kikuyus especially those living outside Central Province.

(2)     Ignore/Minimise Crisis or Run Away

This tends to be the position of wealthy, middle-class or business oriented Kikuyus. They continue to simply cope and hope that soon the political actors that they support will succeed in tempering these national storms. However, the crisis is only getting worse and Kenya as a state is now under threat. Local and international investor confidence has significantly ebbed. Hundreds of thousands of Kikuyus lost their investments and livelihoods with the post election violence. Many Kikuyu businesses continue to be uncertain of the future.

(3)     Apologizers

There are a few Kikuyus who have swung to the other end of the spectrum by trying hard to appear different from other Kikuyus. These Kikuyus are mainly in civil society. They seek to deny an ethnic political identity and often point out Kikuyu advantages and Kikuyu corruption. These Kikuyus have provided a healing balm to other Kenyans but have failed to shift Kikuyu community thinking or resolve the national crisis.

Proposals for way forward:-

1.       Leadership

The community needs a cross-sectional rejuvenation of its leadership, especially political. There is need for a leadership that deals with national & local socio-political & economic issues by effectively balancing 3 things: (i) the promotion of democratic principles and the protection of the human rights of all Kenyans (ii) the acceptance that Kikuyus are perceived as a dominant group & that their leaders will therefore be held to a different standard as leaders, as well as be expected to shoulder special responsibilities not necessarily expected from others (iii) the need for strategic capitalization of the community’s relative strengths for the benefit of the wider Kikuyu community, as well as for the overall growth of Kenya.    

2.       Strategic Thinking:

The community needs strategic thinkers who get into the issues that are facing the community, & who can help the community leadership develop solutions on current & long-term issues.

3.       Community Structures:

The community needs to develop structures within its various demographics (elders, women & youth) that can help every member engage in local and/or national socio-economic development projects.

Tags: GEMA, Kikuyu Future, mungiki