ETHNICITY

It’s a situation where by different communities have the state of belonging are through their beliefs, values, norms, religion, taboos, and myths. Ethnicity can be in two forms that is positive and negative ethnicity.

On the other hand, ethnicity can also be associated with tribalism. This nation Kenya has 42 tribes which speak different languages. The main dormant ones are Kikuyu, Kalengin, Luo, Luhya, Kamba, Kisii, Pokomo, Taita, Embu, Somali etc. Positive ethnicity is the best way forward which has not been achieved since independence in 1963. However, there is negative ethnicity which really affect this nation. It hinders most of the citizens of this nation to achieve the set goals of realization of our vision 2030 which has three pillars that is economy, social and political.

It’s a good idea to us to comprehend the origin of the negative ethnicity in our country. It is logical for any person to solve a problem; the best step to undertake is to know its origin. However, before the colonial era, we as Kenya citizens we were illiterate that we couldn’t know how to read and write. We came from far distances such as the Bantu, Nilotes and Cushites. These three language groups can from different places to invade this land that they found without few human existences who came first because they didn’t arrive at the same time but wildlife were plenty.

After their settlement they appointed some to rule them through consensus as their kings within their kingdoms; there were no president or prime minister in this great land. British colonies came and rule this country until we attained our independence. The negative ethnicity was brought by our fore fathers of this nation. They did not know its implications it can cause to the future generation. Negative ethnicity has been affecting us since independence that why some of us look at one another from the tribe he/she is coming from. The issue of stereotyping is the main contributor of negative ethnicity in this motherland. For instance, certain tribes do not want their children to get marry from a certain tribe simply because they consider other tribes are witchcraft, have pride, thieves, eat too much, are untidy etc. These have contributed negative perspective in the mind of children when growing up towards other tribes that they cannot associate with them.

This negative ethnicity which is also highly influence by our own politicians during their campaigns has brought a vivid portrait on these issues. Politics play a vital role in the economic development of a country. I can say that Kenyan citizen have not clearly understood the meaning of politics. Politicking should be a situation whereby a politician stand firm for the interest of citizen well being not for the egocentric nature that we are still glancing at their offices. It’s a high time where our leaders should know the real meaning of politics. Majority of politicians vie for a particular position because of the power, huge salary, family aid, luxury life and their own selfish ambition. It’s a high time we Kenyans to avoid this separation of the unity & peace. Politicians who do not know why we elect them into the office shouldn't be voted back. 

I’m seeing a prosperity nation where tribalism will be a thing of the past. This can only be if we embrace one another as my brother and sister, we therefore have to co-exist in peace, love and unity has it been mention in our national anthem “May we dwell in unity peace and liberty”. I believe that as long as we fight this negative ethnicity to be a national disaster we are supposed to teach the current generation the importance of positive ethnicity and what do negative ethnicity entailed. Most people say that there is high unemployment rate in our country.  This is absolutely wrong, what really contribute to this unemployment rate as per my opinion is about negative ethnicity such as nepotism where by someone cannot employ another person because he/she is not coming from his/her tribe or there is no relation between the employer and applicant thus preferring a person from his/her same tribe. This result to position is granted to individuals who are incompetence, corrupt and do not have the best knowledge of their roles. Therefore, it result to low productivity at work place thus contribute to low growth of economic development. Majority of these applicants are not innovative in these companies or in these institutions. 

Any organization that embrace new ideas and technology compete favorable in global market since they have competence employees whose vision are based on company goals. This has been the case with the old constitution where Ministries were given to any person as long as the person has a degree in any field of study. For instance, a person employed in Ministry of Agriculture and the person did Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, or Ministry of Transport and Communication yet the person did Medicine and specialized in Surgery. How can these two instances  and disciplines correlate to each other it was very difficult for the  economy of a country to grow and solve poverty issues or unemployment rate.

We us Kenyan citizens we had made the right step towards the right direction by having promulgated new constitution on 27th August 2010.  We cannot achieve all that we want at the same time, it can only happens at different time. Therefore, if we have the best leaders who can implement this constitution to its latter. This country will expands its boundaries for allowing many local and international investors to create more employment opportunities to women and youths.

I thank Almighty God for this transformation of my mind perspective towards things that do surround me. I have considered everyone as my brother and sister. We are the future Managers, Directors, C.E.O, P.S, Cabinet Secretaries, Senators, Governors, Investors etc. We have to uphold our national anthem and work with one another despite which ethnic background, race, religion, sex he/she is from. We have to encourage intermarriages to promote unity  peace among other tribes and show love to one another. 

Our Holy book for Christians; Jesus Christ said that this is the Greatest second Commandment that you should love one another as you love yourselves Mark 12:31 . Yet has Christians we only look at it in a narrow point of view that your neighbor is a person nearby you. It’s absolutely true but in a broader context a neighbor is also our brothers and sisters from different tribes. For instance, if I was sitting close to a person from different tribe as a passenger, or in a congregation will I not consider him/her as my neighbor? In simple answer the person qualifies to be my neighbor. Therefore, I need to love him/her as well as I show love to someone who can from my own tribe. 

One day a certain priest said to us in a church fellowship in the campus that if we hate other tribe that do not belong to our own ethnic group then during blood transfusion do we check that this blood donor and ask ourselves that this blood group come from which tribe or region? Absolutely No, we only consider it as any blood group that can support our life to enable us to live. 

Eventually, for us to live in a peaceful environment that can bring a better nation than before we have to bury this disease of negative ethnicity which has live for more than half a century. It has made our lives and children to be static not dynamic . Let’s all of us pray to one another for the peace, love and unity for this great nation and the future generation.