Well, I still fail to underscore how the entire conversation transpired. Once upon a time, my friend George Rodrick, a British National told me something that Kenyans need to hear.
He said “Kenya is a nice country, a nation of unique cultural diversity, home of natural heritage and above all a country of intelligent, industrious and innovative people.”
He added that Kenyans can go miles, achieve great development and live worthwhile lives that reflect USA, Britain and Japan but the only menace is the tribal segregation whose impact is felt beyond the horizon of our country. Tribal segregation has been one of the social diseases that has infected the perceptions of many people in our sovereign country.
I credited and accorded him an outright support pertaining to his Solomonic viewpoint. Kenyans have been victims of ethnic segregation in all spheres of their affiliations. I still remember the day I happened to run an errand in one government office. The moment I walked into the office, I met the secretary who allowed me in. After ten minutes of discussion with her boss, he bluntly asked me where I came from. I suppose he must have wanted to place me based on regionalism. I gave him my answer as a formal way to give him a benefit of doubt.
After about 15 minutes of facilitation, he asked me to report back later. However, the situation did not auger well as promised. I tried but my plea was futile. I will not delve into the issue at length but i have to shade light on the fact that ethnic divides and chauvinisms are real machines that infringe on our rights as people united by blood. It has denied us access to resources as well as put the integrity of our offices under question.
Comparatively, that experience could be a drop in an ocean if we have to consider the magnitude of frustrations our sovereign citizens often undergo. It is a norm and a discourse in most work places where feelings of job insecurity, fear of interdiction are the norm.
Many employed Kenyans are at worst reciting a similar song in the choir of tribal segregation. The condition unravels and reveals the kind of frustration my fellow Kenyans undergo. Some are feeling it but cannot voice their issues, they simply keep calm, hoping that Kenya will one day be redeemed.
But who will be the redeemer? Do we need to continue waiting on Jesus Christ to save us or the government to intervene? The definite answer is 'no'. Perhaps there is need for us to redefine our own individualism. The truth of the matter is that ethnicity in itself has given rise to corruption.
The government has tried to put up institutions to address such problems. However, the returns are not promising. The state however needs to know that the concerted move in achieving zero tolerance to ethnicity is not a matter of putting up institutions but rather a mental and behavioral change among all Kenyans.
Furthermore, Kenya is currently on the verge of realizing economic development as more sectors have become promising. Therefore, there is need for individual actions and a national move to bolster up equitable development for all Kenyans irrespective of ethnic background. Kenyans need to change their behaviours for a worthwhile future. Fellow Kenyans let us shun ethnicity and be a voice but not an echo.
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