Kenya's beauty lies in in the uniqueness of each one us

On 9th March 2018, the world witnessed unwonted political phenomenon: President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime-Minister Raila Odinga, hitherto political nemeses, had a handshake.

This handshake should signal the end of a season and the beginning of another. It should enable us to share our pain and sorrow; and, our hope and confidence in Kenya’s future.

It should symbolise a toil of nurturing the tender fields of peace and reconciliation; and, the pending plodding labour of opening the bowels of the earth to reveal its raw elements that Kenya must be built on.

Of course, some of us rightly have reservations about the prospects beyond the aforesaid handshake. For, it might seem unnatural to place those fighting a ‘just war’ alongside those whom they oppose. But, there should be no dissonance with regard to the clarion call: Divided We Fall!

We should accept that handshake, with all its imperfections, as it has availed to us an avenue to reconcile.

Nonetheless, it should not be expected to conjure up instant fruition. It just laid the foundation. The construction of our imagined house of peace requires the hands of all Kenyans.

It demands that we join hands to deal with negative ethnicity, corruption, violence and exclusivity. This is the only sure-fire way to extricate ourselves from the process that has pitted us against each other.

UNITED WE STAND

Kenya is no longer the country it was prior to the new constitution, which dismantled the stifling legacy of one-party democracy.

Today, we reap the harvest of what we sowed when we adopted this progressive constitution in 2010. In the celebration and disappointment that attends such harvest, we know that we shall have to sow again, and harvest again; to flourish as a people. And, for us to know that even at our eternal rest, our progeny will be secure in the knowledge that three words reign: United We Stand!

The destruction caused by shameless negative ethnicity, run-away corruption and omnipresent exclusivity is incalculable. It shatters the very fabric of a nation. So, let us act with a foresight and build on the proud tradition of unity in action as embodied by our freedom fighters.

This will ensure Kenyans live in harmony; made possible by the power of reconciliation and fortified by the spirit of tolerance.

The past is a resource from which we can draw, but it should not dictate our choices. Consequently, let us pick what is good and leave behind the ethnic-based internecine quarrels. Let us begin an era where ethnic bloc x doesn’t have to be defined by being against ethnic group y.

For, when our relationship is defined by our differences, we empower those who sow hatred.

WAY FORWARD

With that in mind therefore, even when the tug of ethnicity is at its primal, we must never turn inward. We must resist the urge to demonize those who are different. Instead we should seek the divine spark that is inherent in us all. This is the only way to dismantle the ubiquitous cycle of suspicion and discord.

We need to pledge ourselves to peace and unity. In the process, we develop an active democracy that serves the led and not the leader. Towards this end, mwananchi should participate in every decision on Kenya’s future. Importantly, undue reliance should never be placed on a few egoic political leaders.

The march envisaged in this narrative will certainly have some twists and bumps. Along the way we will be called upon to embrace tactical flexibility in order to keep our ship afloat on the stormy sea-of-life. Throughout though, we must maintain the moral high ground.

Unquestioningly, there are some who question whether Kenya can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke flames of division, and to stand in the way of progress. Some will suggest that we are fated to disagree and clash. I don’t believe in that; and, I hope you don’t either.

Within sorrow is grace. When we come close to those things that “break us down”, we touch those things that ‘break us open’. And in that “breaking open”, we uncover our true nature. For, we do not attain unity by ignoring the questions that have to be faced.

TOLERANCE

Subsequently, we must be tolerant towards those whose ideologies differ from ours. By so doing, we demonstrate the justness of our views. Thence, we must show respect even to those we disagree with.

With charity for all and malice toward none, we shall bind up the deep nation’s wounds and strive for a lasting peace. For, only men of stone are unmoved by the noble passions of love.

Difference is the essence of humanity and it should therefore never be the source of conflict. Therein lies the fundamental principle of unity in diversity and conciliation of differences.

Further, any formation that elevates a group of people over another is doomed to fail. So, Kenya’s challenges must be dealt with through partnership; and, progress must be shared.

For, Kenya’s beauty lies in our common eagerness to honor the uniqueness of each one of us.