We must free ourselves from the divisive “political tribe”

Anno Domini 2017 was annus horribilis – the year from hell.  It’s a year I would like to forget. But that’s impossible because 2017 is now part of our zeitgeist. We shouldn’t forget history, even if we could. That’s because history is always our best teacher. Today, I will focus on what we learnt in 2017 so that we can stop digging since we are in a hole – more like a cavern. But before I do so, let me remind everyone that each one of us “owns” herself, or himself. No one – absolutely no one – owns you. Not your mom or dad, your spouse, tribe, or the state – nada. Think for yourself, or at least pretend to do so.

My crystal ball took a sabbatical in 2017. But I have brought it back from recess. But before I prophetically peer into it, let me tell you what 2017 taught us. First, we learnt in 2017 that we hate each other. There’s no doubt that Kenyans hate each other with a deep venom. This hatred isn’t concretised to a particular person. It’s an abstract hate directed at identity. The Kikuyu “hate” the Luo and vice versa. Most Kenyan ethnic groups “hate” the duopoly of the Kikuyu and the Kalenjin. But when this hate is concretized and particularised, the hater realises that she doesn’t hate the particular Kamba, Luhya, Kisii, or Somali person. In fact, all Kenyans have friends across tribes.