Art: 2012 Politics: Above Tribal Selfishness and Manipulation

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Whose children will end up in the streets or risk getting trafficked as a result of politically instigated clashes? And whose life will deteriorate into misery in the long run?  No one can escape suffering because of his connection to a particular leader or a particular tribe. On the other hand the pangs of hunger are the same to people of all tribes and deaths are just as painful to people of all tribes.

Today, I reflected about how politicians divide populations along tribal lines to the extent that even friends who are dear to each other are forced to become enemies. 2008, was one of the worst years because even family members who happened to hail from different tribes had to separate and children had to suffer as a consequence. On the other hand we cannot forget the inter-tribal violence, where people got killed, children were left orphaned, schools, churches, business and health centers got burned, transport infrastructure was badly destroyed and so on. I am simply saying there was wanton destruction of life and property.

However after this massive destruction, I ask my self, who was left hurting and suffering?  At the end of the day, it is not the inciters who got hurt but the poor people, the common mwananchi!  He will lack a family because he walked out of it. He will lack a friend because he killed him or hurt him. If he did betray his friend, then he will always be shouldering so much guilt in his heart.  He will lack comfort because he burned everything that could have given him comfort.

On the other hand, I ask how can I be incited against my long term friend? A friend who I was always going to borrow from when the month was in a “tight corner?” By killing my friend, I have condemned his wife and family to misery and I have condemned my heart to guilt. His children could end up in the streets or could end up trafficked. Each and every time I will be seeing those children I will always remember that I murdered or caused someone to be poor.

It is important to know that the politician (Mr. or Ms Mheshimiwa) will not in the long run suffer the consequences of violence even if he comes from your tribe. Just try to imagine what you will go through after acting like a fool <inadequate educational institutions; health centers, food shortages, unemployment e.t.c> . The inciters (waheshimiwa) on the other hand will continue leading uninterrupted comfortable lifestyles: they will go to the best hospitals in the country and abroad, enjoy golf, have homecoming and away parties inviting each other after winning elections, live in the most expensive and secured neighborhoods and their kids go to the most expensive secured schools in the country and abroad.

Art: Mike Mungai. Story: Mike Mungai and Muko Ochanda