‘Shackles of Doom’: A true story of Kenya

By Akinyi Okulo

‘Shackles of Doom’, the now popular play by Butere Girls’ High School, that was banned for failure to promote national cohesion, was finally screened at the finals of the National Schools and Drama Festival in Mombasa, courtesy of a court order.

The play revolves round the discovery of oil in region occupied by a marginalised community where a group of investors not from the indigenous community strategise to ‘fall in’.

The lead investor, who is not a local, even marries off his daughter to the local community in a bid to foster good relationships. However, the indigenous community is ignored in key appointments, all going to persons from the investors’ tribe. What is telling from this play is that a group of school children has given a snap-shot of that which be-devils: Ethnocentrism, nepotism and marginalisation of certain communities despite assurances by each new political administration to form an inclusive government after every General Election.

In 2011/2012 The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) conducted a Knowledge , Attitude and Perception (KAP) study on equality and non-discrimination amongst children in selected regions countrywide. From the findings, six out of ten children in Kenya are aware that tribalism is a form of discrimination but say they are under pressure from their parents to discriminate on ethnicity. Thirty eight per cent of children felt that their tribes are more superior to other tribes and that it is best to keep friends from one’s tribe.

It is now obvious that children are becoming more aware of political discussions around ethnicity both in and out of their homes. Children seem to have an impression that communities are either grouped as ‘us’ and ‘them’. Are our children drinking from the poisoned chalice of ethnocentrism?

‘The play boldly addresses nepotism in appointments especially where local communities have been ignored in the running of projects directly impacting them.  Nepotism is real in Kenya.  The ‘economy of affection’ seems to percolate every faucet of administration more sore in political appointments, thus leaving disgruntled voices mainly from communities that feel they have been side-lined.

Social media has indeed provided a relatively anonymous avenue where citizens regularly vent on tribalism, nepotism and discrimination where political appointments are concerned.

 I say anonymous because it appears that these kind of discussions is taboo. Of course all the bile and negative statements are targeted at a specific community that is perceived to have undue advantage for a myriad of reasons, both real and imagined.

There is also the perception that where a particular community has numbers, then it follows that they have monopoly over emerging economic opportunities. However, I have stated this before that, “No single tribe is superior to another irrespective of demographic statistics that may suggest an advantage in numbers”.

 Shackles of Doom is the most naked attempt in Kenya’s modern history to provoke thought and initiate discussions around tribe and ethnicity.

 The play did not make it to the list of top plays. However, it received a standing ovation and continues to receive positive reviews.

Strange that a group of school children are now forcing us to boldly question why certain communities appear to be favoured in public appointments against the spirit of our Constitution.  What comes out clearly is that for ultimate national cohesion to be achieved, no community should be seen to have undue advantage in national matters. Until these conversations that cause such discomfort can be addressed only then can we chart the path to unity.

The writer is a media and social researcher