By: Juma Hemedi
Worth Noting:
- There are many people in Many places who are socially and economically contributing hugely to the development of their communities whose parents or grandparents migrated into those areas. These people have hugely invested and even employed local communities.
- Sometimes people have been described as “diaspora” Communities. How is a kamba, borana, somali, maasai or even a Luo who has been living in Thika for the last 50 years and have raised his family here a “diaspora”? How is that different from the Kikuyu who migrated from Nyeri 50 years ago and settled in Thika and raised his family here too?
In the run up to the August 2022 Elections a lot of statements have been made in regard to who or what kind of people should run for political offices in which areas. These kinds of statements have put some politicians in trouble with remarks of “madoadoa”.
The remarks range from being born in certain areas, to being a woman or a youth. Many aspirants have designed messages in their campaigns about being a youth or being a woman. Gender or Being a youth are not qualifications of leadership and so is being born in an area you are contesting in.
We must go beyond gender, age and birth and look into an individual’s integrity, accountability, character, maturity, respect, diligence, humility, humanity, social engagements, concern for community and spirit of service.
We must look at society values that these individuals hold and yes we must also look at their capacity, education and capability to lead and be diligent in the discharge of their leadership mandate.
History too is something to look at. There are so many people going for leadership with questionable credentials, some have forged documents, lied about their education, stolen properties, mismanaged and stole public funds and sometimes funds meant for the children and orphans. Some even disinherited their own siblings and families.
Recently an aspirant quipped that those to be elected in electoral areas must be individuals born in those areas. What about those whose parents migrated in those areas when they were young and have gone through education and social interactions in these areas? What about the women who got married and moved into these areas? What about those that came into the towns in search of greener pastures and settled in those areas, Invested and raised their families in there? Don’t they have space under the sun to involve themselves in political decision making?
There are many people in Many places who are socially and economically contributing hugely to the development of their communities whose parents or grandparents migrated into those areas. These people have hugely invested and even employed local communities.
Sometimes people have been described as “diaspora” Communities. How is a kamba, borana, somali, maasai or even a Luo who has been living in Thika for the last 50 years and have raised his family here a “diaspora”? How is that different from the Kikuyu who migrated from Nyeri 50 years ago and settled in Thika and raised his family here too?
This kind of political alienation is what led to the creation of the National Cohesion and Integration commission (NCIC), and recognition of special Interest groups and minority communities in the Constitution. It is what led to the political violence that Kenya has been experiencing since 1992 as some people and communities feel more entitled to political positions than others.
Political alienation does a lot of harm in fostering Inclusivity, cohesion and peace both at local and National level. It creates a society where some people feel left out or denied certain rights because they do not belong to the dominant ethnic community. It many times lead in denying employment to certain cadres of society because they don’t “profess” our culture, tribe or religion.
Many counties in the republic have done very little to even employ people from other ethnic and religious communities in top decision making positions. Entire county cabinets and County assemblies in many counties can conduct sessions in their Ethnic languages.
Political alienation goes beyond ethnic and also includes voters in certain areas who did not vote for you or do not come from the leaders “home area” this has led to underdevelopment and underinvestment in public projects and infrastructure. It has also led to concentration of opportunies in some areas and denying others the chance to make their own contribution.
Let us analyse all these leaders going for political positions based not on the depth of their pockets, age, Gender, or ethnicity but based on their Integrity, Accountability, Maturity, Diligence and respect for All.
Let us get those leaders that seek to Unite not further divide people. Let us find leaders who will bring political stability not conflicts, insults and fault finding…. Let us find leaders who have genuine concern for the people and those that have a history of driving community agendas not personal agendas.
God Bless you as you search your souls and pray for our Country.
Juma Hemedi Mwaniki
MP Thika-2022
#WeTakeThikaSeriously
Similar Posts by The Mt Kenya Times:
- Statement win at the Gtech: Brentford outclass Chelsea to claim all three points
- When disability funds become a frontier for accountability: Kenya’s PWDs refuse to be invisible
- Public voices concerns over proposed education laws
- Manufacturing hope at the ballot, accumulating fortunes after the count
- Review of the Novel Pride and Prejudice
About the Author
