Let's not allow politicians to use ethnicity to divide us yet again

While speaking on one of the popular political podcasts in the country, Prof Vincent Okoth Ongore, a scholar on ownership structure and associate professor at Technical University of Kenya reminded the nation that the future of a nation is never entirely dependent on the whims of an individual but on the collective will of the people. In the electric atmosphere of political competition, it might appear that the ordinary citizen is helpless. Those on car rooftops spewing vitriol might look like the ultimate determinants of our fate. But in all the epochs when we have made right turns as a country, it was in large part due to the consolidated voices of ordinary people.

In the last couple of weeks, we have heard accusations and counter-accusations between the political class on who has made inflammatory remarks and who has not. The threat of ethnic and political violence is always just one wrong turn away. But right now, that threat is more pronounced due to a dearth of philosopher kings on the political landscape. Everywhere you turn, people who pose as leaders sound like mad men in the marketplace with neither sense of responsibility nor a commitment for higher ideals. National cohesion is a national ideal that all of us, young and old, must firmly defend.

While serving as chair of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) Mzalendo Kibunjia observed that curbing online incitement was a critical step in containing triggers that might lead to violence. Due to the liberalisation of information sharing on account of easy access to the internet, summoning politicians who make inflammatory remarks is certainly a knee-jack reaction and certainly too little too late. We must deal with the edifice that makes it possible for politicians to seek to exploit ethnic and tribal grievances, real or imagined, in pursuit of political ends.

Question is, do the people have sufficient tools and resources to fight incitement including disinformation and misinformation? When you see citizens caught in the frenzy of sloganeering while elections are two years away, it’s a pointer that the social contract is in jeopardy.

It is a consequence of years of disappointment. For illustration purposes, let’s take a mental flight to that time in 2010 when we promulgated the new Constitution. There was a palpable optimism that after the blunder of 2004 and 2005 when sectarian interest undermined the Constitution-making process, finally we were out of the woods.

But all the good rhetoric in 2013 proved to be nothing more than the slick tongue of a snake oil salesman. The same rhetoric played out in 2017 and 2022 general elections with disastrous consequences. But history demonstrates that it’s the nature of man to repeat past mistakes, although not in a similar pattern, and nothing gives it a more eloquent expression than the words of Mark Twain when he said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes”.

Lofty promises that are not backed with actions can precipitate disillusionment. In a conversation, a friend pointed out that at least 92 per cent of the current Parliament will be voted out for failing to collectively and individually inspire hope in the people. So in this moment of great despair, we must not let politicians who are the authors of our misery to pretend to be our saviours while setting us up against one another. That is why you see those we thought were the leaders of Gen Z, oscillating between the government and opposition like a pendulum.

The NCIC should amplify its mentorship programme to include young people in political parties and in civil society and youth-serving organisations to ensure that we build the capacity of the emerging cadre of young leaders. This will help end, among other things, the culture of primitive accumulation that has hindered service delivery since every procurement process is seen as an opportunity to line the pockets. Let the NCIC launch a national values campaign that can then become the benchmark of accountability. With the people awakened to their power, the politicians will be tamed.

Mr Kidi is the convener of Inter-parties Youth Forum. [e-mail]