Politics of exclusion cannot ensure a winning ticket

By George Marenya

The debate was already raging even before they set foot in Limuru for the so-called Limuru II.

Gema (Kikuyu, Embu, Meru Association) evokes considerable fear among other communities. Gema themselves aver that theirs is a cultural association. As benign as can be.

You know as well as I do that this is a loosely cobbled smokescreen. How much "culture", for example, was discussed during Limuru II?

Ethnicity has been described as both political and cultural. Cultural ethnicity is merely defined by place of residence, customs and language. This assemblage is naturally evolving and needs no creativity to weave.

The political tribe (ethnic group) however is a different kettle of fish. It is mobilised to compete with other groups in an us versus them zero sum game.

In this arrangement, other tribes are a threat and pose competition for limited opportunities and resources.

The political tribe is a conduit for making demands from the central state. No tactic is spared. Blackmail, threats, promises and anything is fair game in this arrangement.

Where does Gema fit in all this? Is there anything wrong with the Gema approach? Is it doomed to fail?

Anyang’ Nyong’o has told us in his magnum opus – Leap Into The Future -– that ethnicity as an ideology is a legitimate political undertaking.

All things equal therefore Gema is putting up a show. It is engaging in hard ball tactics aimed at forcing other groups, especially Raila Odinga to engage with them on their own terms.

They are engaged in high stakes negotiation. Their strategists must have known the age-old dictum that you don’t negotiate in defeat.

That is called surrender in any other language.

sell message

Gema spin-doctors backed by a largely complicit media likely swayed by its monstrous wealth have painted the Kibaki legacy in such glowing lights you would imagine he is Solomon reincarnated.

Behind this is a narrative meant to send you into a dizzying submission, "If Kibaki as a Kikuyu can inundate Kenya with super highways, then another kikuyu after Kibaki is not bad after all! Heck we just need a Kenyan".

A listing of American presidents over the hundreds of years will show that no state has produced a president for more than five times.

I have no problem with Gema. I treat them (organisation) with mutual and indeed warm contempt. They are a necessary but regrettable apparition in the political landscape.

The problem with Gema politics is that it is so ultra-conservative that it even divides Kikuyus themselves.

The Maina Njenga fiasco in Limuru is a case in point.

When they convene Limuru III as Uhuru Kenyatta has told us they will, it would be helpful to exhibit a modicum of tack and sophistication.

Let them realise that fundamentally there is no bifurcation between the aspirations of the voluptuous maiden in Kerugoya and the princess shopping at Yala market.

That the best meal ticket for Gema is to sell a message palatable to all Kenyans. Let them instead of demonising Raila, entice him to once more say; Gema Tosha! The pursuit of extremely exclusive and opaque aims is Gema’s waterloo.

To claim to hate Raila and not the Luo per se is naÔve and perplexing. Raila according to the late philosopher Odero-Oruka is the embodiment of Luo aspirations and frustrations.

Raila remains the single greatest Pan-Luo project of all time. Defeating him will cost Gema tears, sweat and too much cash. Worst of all, it will be pyrrhic victory. A cheaper route is possible-genuine negotiation with Raila.

At Limuru III, let Gema invite other leaders from outside Gema.

Tuju would be an ideal candidate if just for its image boost.

Let them appreciate that other communities have offered their two per cent contribution to the cobbling of Kenya. In academia, civil service, labour, entertainment, business no community is self-contained to the exclusion of others.

Let them sprinkle a little bit of ideology. Let them give their stand on devolution, county governance, and political party democracy. Let Gema offer a veneer of intellectualism.

As a Gema scholar Peter Kagwanja has said let them embrace "enlightened politics of reason and nationhood or perish in the dynastic ghetto".

As America tolerated the emergence and existence of Reagan democrats, Gema must accommodate pro-Raila Kikuyus.

Writer is an editor with Community Eye.

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