Ethnicity: Sins from our forefathers

 The political landscape is already changing as we come closer to 2017 general elections. Politicians and citizens alike are gearing up for yet another bout of campaigns and political rallies in a bid to gain the vote of the electorate. In any democratic society, elections are a fundamental aspect of its political, social and economic development. But it only becomes effective if it is done in a transparent and credible manner without any element of ethnicity and retrogressive regionalism.

Since time immemorial, this country has evolved through different phases but one thing seems to elude us; eliminating negative ethnicity. As a matter of fact, it is getting worse by each election. From the 1960’s KAMATUSA to the 1970’s GEMA, political alliances along tribal lines are not new in Kenya. Every period preceding a general election in Kenya is overshadowed with rampant and volatile negative ethnicity talks and hate speeches. And that is why having democratic, free and fair elections may still only exist within the confines of our figments of imagination. Are Kenyans really defined by tribalism? Or haven’t we already witnessed the extent to which it can dent our development as a country not to mention the loss of innocent lives? What will it take for us to finally realize that nothing good can ever come from negative ethnicity?