The deputy President of Kenya (His Excellency William Samoei Ruto) was, on January 19, put to shame while addressing a rally in Narok County. Ruto was continuously shouted at by the gathering as he tried to persuade them to register as voters ahead of the general election which is scheduled for August 2017. President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto, and the opposition leader Raila Odinga have been exploring the country, urging Kenyans to take part in the mass voter registration exercise which kicked off on January 16.
It is evident that Kenya is divided
Some parts of Kenya are considered to be no-go zones for some politicians. Narok, for instance, is considered an opposition stranglehold, but the Jubilee Party is said to have been attempting to win the CORD supporters ahead of the 2017 General Election. Recently, President Uhuru Kenyatta was embarrassed by the Mombasa County governor Ali Hassan Joho during the opening of the footbridge in Mombasa. Joho threw words at Uhuru, claiming that his government was launching projects initiated by the CORD leader Raila Amolo Odinga.
A few months ago, the youth from Nakuru County (which is a breeding ground for the Jubilee party), stormed a Hotel where Raila Odinga was holding a meeting with some leaders.
They demanded that he leave the county straight away. Accompanied by Jubilee leaders, the youth claimed that the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was planning to incite his supporters to stage demonstrations in the town, as well as asking for the residents’ support during the election.
Tribalism
Tribalism is intensifying in Kenya.
The level of hatred keeps increasing now and then. Inter-ethnic interactions are also increasing. Kenya is owned by some individuals. There will come a time when one is recognized by their tribe, but neither by their influence, nor their experience. The leaders are not only preaching hatred, but also widening it. And because of this, the gap between the rich and the poor will continue to widen.
We need to practice democracy as a nation
I would like to echo the words of Barack Obama that democracy does not require uniformity. It is time we emulated the example of our fathers. For the foundation we lay now will last from generation to generation. We can only rise if we are united. Indeed, democracy requires an elementary sense of solidarity. We rise or fall as one.
