The book introduces several Kenyan ethnic groups, their uniqueness, beauty, and their amusing traditional stereotypes. “Kenya is made up of about 42 different ethnic groups, some of which could be seen as separate nationalities forced together by different historical circumstances.” The book emphasizes the loyalty people have and owe to their ethnics groups, and how unscrupulous politicians try to exploit this. The most prominent groups are the Kikuyus and the Luos. “The Luos and the Kikuyus are separate and relatively homogenous communities, of course the extent of the exploitation of this homogeneity as basis of political action would vary among the two ethnic groupings.”
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Raila’s father, was Kenya’s initial Vice-President before being side-lined by President Jomo Kenyatta. The book explores Jaramogi and Raila’s Luo heritage, describing the manner in which their ethnic origins both furthered and restricted their nationalist political ambitions. In so doing, the book illustrates how ethnicity has often been employed as tool of fear and divisiveness to prevent challenges to the power of the dominant Kenyan political elite.
For example, “the assertion of ideological difference and personal leadership ambitions, accentuated the struggle between Tom Mboya and Oginga Odinga” While politicians like Jomo Kenyatta ripped the benefit of ethnic politics, Mboya paid the ultimate price-the loss of his life.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the comments page are those of the writers and in no way represent the views of Yintab Books nor the Author, Dr. Babafemi Badejo
July 31, 2006 at 5:34 am
Tribal politics started with colonialism however fast forward to today. The young professionals today DO NOT CARE about where you are from and that is why we have an intergrated workforce. Where you got your MBA is more important that your last name in this day and age and based from that. Basically all I care about is WHO CAN DO THE JOB!!!!!!
Tribalism is old school politics Kenyans have wised up case in point the referendum on the new constitution!!!!
September 18, 2006 at 3:56 pm
Why are Africans always playing the ostrich? None of them are willing to address one of the main problems keeping the continent down: tribalism. Of course, the other and equally as important, is corruption. Some debate can help.
October 8, 2006 at 1:04 am
Read professor Anyang Nyongos observation about myths fronted by some people from sections of the republic, that a particular tribe cannot lead Kenya. Also reading from comments here every other person who comments on tribal politics wants to look holier that thou to stigmatise Raila with this brand of politics. I find this unfortunate.
Now lets for a momment call a spade what it is, and not term it a big spoon. Let us tackle this manace called TRIBALISM. It is the one factor which has prevented cohesivness in the country. Without cohesion a people cannot unit and demand for good governance. In essence Kenyans devide themselves along tribal lines to allow unstable, corrupt leaders to entrech themselves in power then use the ill gotten wealth to corruptly stay in power. This is done at the disadvantage of citizens. So how do we solve it.?
First, we must accept that it is there.
2. We must find its roots
3. We must design ways to combat it .
Now if we look at countries in the African continent we see so many volatile situations of tribal politics. But none of the many models we see in other countries should be taken as an example except two. The two countries I mention here are 1Tanzania and 2. South Africa. We can borrow a learn from them since they have managed to move ahead better tan us in terms of tackling this manace.
Let us take Tanzania first: Many people have castigated the late Nyerere for introducing socialism in Tanzania making it fail. But the question is what was the barometer used to gauge his failure. Which other country can you compare Tanzania with. Is is the Western countries which have had organised governance for centuries? Or do we compare it to our Kenya which was told to go capitalist by the west, and has remained so wothout decideng on its own what system of government is best suited for its people. As far as governance is concerned a capitalist state is where those in power capitalises on the poor for cheap labor, lack of education to indoctrinate, and subsequently to oppress the peoples voices, by the arm of the police. This might sound starnge to anybody, but you have to learn how these Systems work in order believe what am saying.
Back to Tanzania and tribalism. This country overcame tribalism long time ago because the by then President Julius Nyerere realised that the country was devided on tribal lines . So the government policy was dedicated to eradicating tribalism from the onset of independence till this very day. Now they look at themselves as Tanzanians. They do vote their presidents in power acoording the the Presidents abilities period. No tribe factors comes into question.
The history of South Africa for three hundred years have been that of conflict and warring amongest its people. South Africans were also colonially devided by the white man to make it easy for him to drive a wedge amongest the indegenious people in order to rule them.It is only when Mandela came to power that a “TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMISSION ” was formed to heal the wounds of tribalism. Yes Mandela has been another dedicated Visionary Leader, who worked in a very short time of five years, to transform the entire South Africa and to reverse the minds of the people, whites, blacks and coloreds to think like South Africans and not as their race first. It has worked. South Africa is silently becoming a world super power. This shows that nothing is impossible.
Now let us turn back to our “Confused” leaders and a country at Crossroads, Kenya.Tribalism dates back to the colonial rule when the white man had to devide us acording to his wish so that he could lord over us. He then introduced a term called “TRIBE”. He then introduced the KIPANDE which either had to be worn around the neck or be carried in the pocket at all times, so that whenever he so wished, he could stop you on the road and demand that you show this thing. If you happened to be from the house of Mumbi, as appeared on a KIPANDE then you automatically became a “Kamiti” material. Other people were bundled and driven to their quarters at once or home areas. This was the Colonial era. The white man then trained some African Turncoats , who went against the indegenous people. These people were illiterate , but were told to obey and to follow what they were told. We find the likes of Chief Njonjo, Chief Koinange, Chief Odera Akango, Chief Nabongo of Wanga and many others. Even the current President is a son of a Former Chief during colonial Era. Those who were leaders of their regions, and who did not want to make it easy for the white man to rule them like Koitalel of the nandis were murdered. While others like Laibon Lenana (Maasai Worrior) was duped into signing dubious agreements with the white man.
When the white mans presence became unbearable and the indegenious people started waging war on the white man, the same chiefs were mobilised to turn against their own peple. They provided Armies of people, who became “Home Guards”, to fight back the Black mans Army, The Army of Dedan Kimathi. When Kimathi was almost suceedding, the Colonial decided to leave , but wereafraid that the world would view them as having been beaten by the black man. Though there was another civil front led by Ramogi Odinga, Kagia, Oneko, Karumba, Kenyatta (who was in jail now) Late Ngei Ronald Ngala. The Colonial government decided to hand over power to these Civil nationalists. Odinga was then summoned to State house and asked to prepare to be the Kenyan prime minister. But Odinga refused to accept this offer and instead demanded that Kenyatta be released from lodwar to head the nation.
The “Mzungu arudi Ulaya, Muafrica apate Uhuru” (Mau Mau) fight still raged on in the forest . General Kimathi had infiltrated everywhere. Something had to be done before he liberated the people. This could mean that the home guards would have not been spared. It is the Chiefs under the Colonial Government and the gards they provided in the army to fight MAU MAU who hatched a plan to capture and kill Kimathi so that their positions in the Government was secure, after the Colonial was gone. Kimathi had eluded the white man for almost a decade. Then all of a sudden, how could they discover where he was?? It is the Homeguards who actualy wounded him then took him to the white man to appear like it is the white man who captured Kimathi. This type of betrayal continue amongest these people to date.
At independence, then, the people who found their way into power and whom ended sorrounding Kenyatta almost blocking him to the real Kenyan world and what Kenya needed, turned out to be these home guards. They had been trained by the Colonial to follow orders. They never had the capacity to think on thir own as to what was best for the country. Their survival was at stake. So they did this by lies, murder and corruption. Any other person who had a different view on what was going on in the country was never tolerated. Then, dissenting vies were silenced by murders.
Daniel O. Makasembo was murdered in an arranged accident. He had earlier moved a motion in parliament that seeked to curb the ecxesses of Land grabbing by government officers and to resettle Squaters near Juja farm, and Coast.
J Argwings Kodhek after moving a motion in parliament contending that the Government had taken a different direction and had turned away from what it promised the peole was mudered and death arranged to appear like it was another car accident.
Tomas J. Mboya, who appeared to be very cunny and was doing a lot for the country was deemed to be becoming too popular. The former homeguards who were now in the strong hold of the government viewed him as a challenge to Kenyattas Leadership. They arraged and gunned him in broad daylight coming out of a shop where “Lords” is today, on Tom Mboya street in Nairobi. Kenyatta was then later to inspect a parade by Kenya Army on Kenyatta Ave, to show who was in Power. He later asked the Homeguards to round up all the Kikuyu community around Nairobi and subsequently the whole central province, and forced them into taking an oath” that they supported the President and that in future they and their children were to have no links with the Luo Community. Those who refused to take this oath were beaten to the point of death. The lucky ones survived, but many died. Others were butchered as family members watched, making it a clear sign that you either took the oath or perished. In otherwords you either denounced the Luo or you were dead. This was the beggining of perfecting the art of tribe in Kenya
This kind of intimidation also spread in government circles. Other tribes were asked to denounce the Luos or risk their jobs in Government. It worked because many ended up hating or fearing the Luos for no apparent reason.
Whenever Luo leaders come out to voice what concerns the common citizen the oathing and the subsequent intimidation by Kenyatta government rings clear in peoples minds.
Land problems and resettling of people who were displaced as a result of colonisation has led to the suffering of many in our Country. In 1966 Oginga Odinga demanded that Kenyatta stops the tendency of grabbing land which was rampant amongest government officers and those who were close to him. Odinga’s arguement was that a lot many people were still without land they could call their own, long after independence. The whole of coast province, parts of Central province Rift Valley and Western province. He also argued that the government needed to set a plan to settle all these people. The homeguards branded him a tribalist and asked Kenyatta to sack him. Odinga would not soften on his stand. Instead he was forced to resign from the government and eventually formed his own party.
Now had the Kenyatta government set a task force to settle these many Landless people(Note this Hon. Mrs Karua), none of those extremely poor souls found in Gatundu South or Baringo would be an issue today. But Odinga who was championing for them was kicked out of Government and their case forgotten.
In 1975 Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, who had been championing the plight of the masses in Kenya (Nobody remembers his famous saying that “I woul rather have a Kenya with 10 million millionares than a Kenya with 10 million people and 10millionares”. Our population was only 10 million by then. This man had a discussion at the Hilton hotel, with a Mr. Ben Gethii, a Senior police officer with the GSU which was assigned to the security detail of President Kenyatta. They later walked out of the hotel and into a waiting car. That was the last time Kariuki was seen alive. He was murdered and the body dumped in Ngong forest to be eaten by hyenas. He had been branded a tribalist. They argued he behaved like a Luo. Question is did they have to kill him like a Dog with T9 Virus. Afterwords the cover up followed. Nobody till today knows who murdered the MP JM. This case is the same as that of another MP and Minister, Robert Ouko in 1988
In conclusion the group of people who were trained to be tribalists are those whose fathers or grandfathers were close or worked hand in hand with the white man. They have refused to have brain clensing to see things the kenyan way. They are the same people who rally their communities to hate others. Everytime they open their mouths all they can say is tribe and tribalism. This is all that they know. It is how they were trained to think, and they are presently very active in the Government. Unfortunately they have control over ta certain community because the community cannot be able to think independently for fear of breaking the oath. I hope this community is not like a whole big gang. It is Gangs that initiate people into clandestine organizations. But Social communities protect their way of life by culture not oaths. So get out of it.
Now then who is tribal and who is not. Raila nor his Father never oathed their communities never to have interaction with other communities. We have seen the man work with everyother community. So why is his position twisted by the tribalist to append this non existent tag on him?? Read between the lines, the next time you hear somebody shout about Raila beig a tribalist , go back and find out where they come from. It could be that the person is still suffering from the hang-over of the forced oathing, and have refused to wake up and come out in the civilised society to join other Kenyans to demand the services they deserve from their Leaders.
Kenyans be real!! If we still think tribal then it means 43 years after independence we still cannot rule ourselves. Why? Tribe is the white mans way of describing us. Are we still their puppets, or do we get out of it and be Kenyans. My Challenge to all of you who think tribe at every breath you take, are you worth being a Kenyan????????????
Today come out of this Yoke and demand the government to issue you with a new Identification without the “TRIBE TAG” on it . Emergency ended in 1953. If you are brave enough, tell Beth Mugo, to ask the President to stop this practise. Let us have new IDs and new Voters cards. Then come next elections let us give Raila a chance. This is one big way of destroying tribalism. If you end up Voting Kibaki back then you are the tribslist. It is apparently clear now that Kibaki is not the right person to have at the top in view of the kind of development progress and steps Kenya need to take to move to the next face.
ARE WE BRAVE ENOUGH TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE KENYA. VOW NEVER TO BE BRAINWASHED BY 2% OF THE POPULATION WHO ENJOYS 90% OF THE WEALTH YOU TOIL TO CREATE THROUGH THOSE HARD CONDITIONS. YET ALL THE TIME THEY WANT US TO HEAR TRIBE, TRIBALISM WHEN IN REALITY THIS IS A DECOY TO STOP US FROM DEMANDING THAT THEY SERVE US THE CITIZEN. LET THERE BE “TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION ” WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER FOR A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL KENYANS AND NOT ONLY THE CHILDREN OF THE HOMEGUARDS. LET THEM ENJOY WHAT THEY STOLE FROM US. BUT THEY MUST LET US DECIDE OUR DESTINY AS A UNITED KENYA.
June 19, 2008 at 9:34 am
Somehow i missed the point. Probably lost in translation
Anyway … nice blog to visit.
cheers, Racialization.