President
Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto have always insisted their coming
together was premised on the unity and cohesion of the nation. As we close in
on the electioneering period of 2017, the narrative is even louder with their
new Jubilee Party’s slogan of a united Kenya.
However,
the happenings in the country showcase a total contradiction of what the two
want us to believe. The culture of ethnic intolerance, hate and tribalism has
never been rifer.
Meanwhile,
the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, the body charged with
midwifing a cohesive Kenya, is but a toothless dog.
The
recent move by Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and other politicians to
storm Moi University to evict an acting vice chancellor because he is an
“outsider” borders on hate mongering and is a serious threat to national
cohesion.
The
university is a national institution and cannot be run like a village baraza.
We expect the President to support Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i
in his efforts to entrench professionalism and adherence to good practices in
our learning institutions.