Opinion
My argument in support of ethnic suicide
Posted Saturday, October 24 2009 at 14:15
But committing ethnic suicide has another two benefits. One, we will be able to see things as they are. Not as we are. Currently, the country is sober. But once Mr Moreno Ocampo lands, the polarities will emerge. Similarly, we have no views about the constitution. But what the politicians will oppose is what we will follow.
But with ethnic suicide, we will become human beings not tribal animals. Instead of supporting the politicians over the constitution, we will make a constitution for our children. And this is why we should listen to the church over the ‘‘stabilisation reforms’’. Our tunnel vision is limiting us on this matter.
Two, ethnic suicide will jump-start the process of healing. According to the ‘‘Law of Nature’’, something must die for the new to emerge. And nothing illustrates this better than the metamorphosis of a butterfly. After the egg hatches, it begins life in the ‘‘pupa’’ stage before entering the ‘‘larva’’ stage as a caterpillar.
Then the caterpillar weaves a silky cocoon around its body, suspends itself on a leafy branch and takes a long deep, deep sleep. Warmed by the sun, and protected from the rain, it waits. Then, one day movement occurs and a butterfly emerges. After drying its new wings in the morning breeze, it takes off into the air.
In each of the stages, something dies. But no loss is experienced because something new, even better, emerges. And this is what nature is calling us to do for Mother Kenya. Something must die for the new to emerge. Are we ready for this? My name is Mutahi Ngunyi, citizen number 4855678, and I will commit ethnic suicide for the love of Kenya!
Mutahi Ngunyi is a political scientist with The Consulting House, a policy and security innovation think-tank for the Great Lakes Region and West Africa.
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Submitted by KruePosted October 27, 2009 06:50 PM
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Submitted by kendigs28
Your article makes for an interesting read..but it's just that, interesting read. I don't think tribe is the problem; therefore I won't join you in denouncing mine. It is human nature to always find fault in diversity. And unfortunately in Kenya we have a lot to find fault in..inequity for instance. Is this brought about by tribalism? Take a family setting, if you're mother is always giving to the your sibling, you will ofcourse take sides against your sibling and side with the one with whom you believe is subjected to the same treatment as yourself.
Posted October 27, 2009 02:13 PM -
Submitted by naliweliwalo
Brilliant academic article, but that's all it is; academic! 2 months before elections, the corpse which resulted from election suicide always rises like a phoenix, stoked by the 'athomis'. Tribe/Ethnicity is a convenient excuse to hold on to power; if you succeed in 'ethnic suicide', the 'athomis' shall get another vehicle to hold onto power! Agreed?
Posted October 26, 2009 07:23 PM -
Submitted by njorogenginyayu
You have so rightly diagonises sickeness and made an appropriate cure. In fact tribalism is kenya original sin
Posted October 26, 2009 07:09 PM -
Submitted by KORYEMA
one day luo youths went to aparty attended by other tribes youths,a war broke over alady,it was worse than PEV even some of Luo youths were suggesting that Luo shu'd lie low as envelope ,cause they're in the midst of enemies,but there was only one youth who fought tooth and nail which even earned him respect among other tribes youths,this forced all luo youths to troop behind him to share that respect.The youth is odingaism.Its along story........
Posted October 26, 2009 06:22 PM
RSS
Ethnic suicide will never be realized and those supporting it are living in a pipe dream. I say this because people say tribalism is the problem but are there tribes in Kenya? Yes many almost 200 all Arsenal supporters are a tribe, all Man U supporters are a tribe but Kikuyus, Luos Kambas, Ogieks etc are NOT tribes. These are nations and no one can run away from them. People should be proud of who they are and setup rules to govern their living in harmony.