By Kilemi Mwiria
I will start by restating my opposition to tribal associations such as Gema. They are of no value to majority of those whose interests they claim to safeguard. Nor do they enrich our capacity to achieve Vision 2030.
Ordinary Kikuyus, Merus or Embus do not enjoy any special privileges from the political elite of their regions; however, the political brokers who champion these initiatives reap more than their fair share.
They want to be present when personal power is being shared. This is why their stand on Gema is not permanent; at one time, it is bad for Kenya’s unity, the next day it is their community’s political saviour. Kenyans have to be reminded again and again that with the new Constitution, a sitting president cannot donate any public goods to the friend’s community; so, please do not fight to have one from your community!
The other day a trader in Meru town asked me; if I support Gema candidate for president so that Merus can be in his good books, who will love the Turkana and others?
Another reminded me that when Gema was established in the 1970s, with a president from the association’s community, the Meru had little to be proud of by way of development projects or senior appointments.
These are clear messages that most Kenyans are now less likely to be cheated by the political class. Our youth are more concerned about employment; their tribal leaders have not solved their problem.
But the big question is whether Gema is there merely for the political supremacy of only one of its three-member ethnic groups. When will Kikuyu politicians support a Meru or Embu counterpart for the presidency, the same way some Embu and Meru politicians die to sell Kikuyu candidates?
Or are Merus and Embus incapable of the top leadership? Is the presidency a preserve of one Gema community? But, come to think of it, why should Kikuyu politicians worry about Embu and Meru, when vocal Meru and Embu politicians go an extra mile to anoint and sing praises of their cousin candidates?
However, if Gema advocates for equality of communities, it is time Kikuyu Gema adherents looked beyond their own. It is time we built our political alliances around matters of our most critical challenges – youth unemployment, insecurity, tribalism, corruption and poverty in general. What the association’s advocates should tell us is; what their preferred candidates will do about our common challenges, not simply that they are ours. If there must be regional groupings, they should focus on how we can make Kenya a great country for all and not on negative ethnicity.
A good starting point is strengthening ties with neighbours with whom we have long term economic interests, irrespective of their ethnicity. For Meru, these neighbours are to the North of us. With the developments coming to Isiolo, Merus have convincing strategic and security reasons to build bridges with Turknanas, Samburus, Borans and Somalis even as they embrace everyone else.
Likewise, the Kamatusa communities may find that their first strategic allies are their immediate neigbours, Maasais, Luos and Kisiis as they talk to Gema and the rest of Kenya.
The writer is MP for Tigania West and Assistant Minister Higher Education, Science and Technology
