MY WEEKEND: Deep-rooted ethnic factor is Kenya’s biggest problem

On Tuesday this week, a call was transferred to my desk at work. It was a man on the line. He introduced himself and told me that once upon a time, many years ago, he wrote for the Daily Nation, but then he relocated to South Africa, and was now back home. He did the introduction in English, but immediately he wrapped it up, he switched to Kikuyu and began to tell me what he wanted.

He had seen my name in the paper, he told me with a familiar tone (like the one you would use when you happened to bump into someone from your village), and he decided to contact me because he was sure I could help him. He wanted to start writing again, and wondered how

I could help him do that.

My colleagues and I get such calls all the time, so there was nothing strange about that particular phone call, or the request. What put me off was this man thinking that I would be more receptive to his request once I found out that he was my tribesman. And herein lies the biggest problem that plagues Kenya.

There is no hope of redeeming this country if you believe that the only people who can stretch out a helping hand when you’re in need are those that speak your mother tongue.

I imagine that this man, who doesn’t know me, nor has he ever met me, going through a newspaper and mentally striking off “unsuitable” names until he came across mine, which rolled off his tongue easily.

I imagine him telling himself that he had a better chance with me, an even better one if he expressed his need in my mother tongue. I readily gave him all the information he needed to achieve what he wanted (in English, but not because I can’t speak my mother tongue, which I’m fond of) and even went ahead and gave him contacts of several editors he could pitch his story ideas to.

But I wasn’t helpful or generous with information because we come from the same region, I was helpful and accommodating because it is expected of me, as an employee of this organisation, to extend such courtesy to whoever calls me, whatever language he speaks, whatever part of the country he comes from or whichever presidential candidate he intends to vote for.

Tribe has no impact whatsoever, when it comes to my job.

While I was a bit miffed by the assumption this caller made, I somewhat understood where he was coming from. I have been to government offices which one would mistake for clan gatherings, where those who speak a “certain” language are given preference and served first, and where relatives of employees working in these offices are unashamedly ushered to the front of the queue.

There are also ministries in the government, and even private companies, that could be said to represent (unofficially of course) particular provinces, thanks to the dense concentration of similar-sounding names. So yes, I understand what may have prompted this caller to play the tribe card.

When it comes to employment and other work-related opportunities, I am a firm believer that what should get you inside the door is your qualifications and experience; other factors shouldn’t count, least of all tribe.

I also believe that you should get timely and quality services from the various service providers there are purely because you’re Kenyan. Period.

[email protected]; Twitter: @cnjerius. The writer is the Editor, MyNetwork, in the Daily Nation