Only hope is to change ethnic ideologies

Retired South African Judge Johann Kriegler addresses a forum organised by the electoral commission on September 9, 2014. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL |

What you need to know:

  • Just like we identify a zebra by its stripes we regard our traditions as god-given features that make us unique.
  • The Bill of Rights is founded on the principle that society should not interfere with the rights of individuals.

Retired South African judge Johann Kriegler recently warned that Kenya will never achieve its development objectives, despite its much acclaimed new Constitution, unless it changes its volatile tribal politics.

The root cause of this tribal politics is an ethnocentric ideology whose application misleads political and economic choices.

The ethnocentric ideology is based on a creation theory that believes that human beings are created to divine specifications.

Accordingly, we believe that our life is determined (our graph is drawn) and destined to live according to unique customs and traditions.

Just like we identify a zebra by its stripes we regard our traditions as god-given features that make us unique.

The corollary of this ideology not only engenders tribalism but is also the source of the type of instability alluded to by Mr Justice Kriegler.

Since independence, the determinist concept of man has resulted in an endless debate about how to respond to pressures of modernisation because we are not able to explain how our society changes.

The most resent presentation of this conflict is the debate over gay rights where traditionalists have argued that it is against African culture and Christian values.

RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS

Like other African countries, Kenyans have rejected campaigns for gay rights on the grounds that it is both against African traditions and a violation of Christian values.

According to media reports, an MP from the Republican Liberty Party has even submitted a Bill in Parliament seeking to put homosexuals to death by public stoning for engaging in activities that violate traditional values.

While the missionary zeal displayed by the sponsors of such a Bill is admirable, the basis of their arguments is misconceived and in conflict with the Bill of Rights that is founded on the principle that society should not interfere with the rights of individuals.

ETHNOCENTRICITY

The fact that an MP can propose a Bill that is so clearly inconsistent with the Constitution illustrates the confusion that results from an outdated ethnocentric ideology.

Similar contradictions are evident in the emotionally charged and divisive principle of equity.

Since we believe all tribes must be equal in the eyes of the Creator, we consider social inequalities abnormal and expect our laws to ensure equitable distribution of resources.

To many, our Bill of Rights is, therefore, held to be a list of citizen entitlement of rights and privileges that ensure each tribe gets its just share of national resources.

It is for this reason that the Okoa Kenya movement is championing amendments to the Constitution to provide a formula for sharing public jobs and contracts.

The argument is, however, a fallacy. Such a quota system will enshrine reverse discrimination, undermine its principle of fairness, and infringe on inalienable rights of its citizens.

The Bill of Rights is not a list of entitlements but a definition of the limits of government authority over individual freedoms.

LIMIT ASPIRATIONS

In practice, it is naïve to assume that citizens will sign up for a document that is discriminating and prejudices their chances for upward mobility.

So, while it is possible to marshal majority votes to limit a community representation in the public service to quotas, victory at the ballot box cannot stifle the entrepreneurial spirit of a community.

Any attempts to limit individual aspirations will only engender resentment and active resistance.

The way to save Kenya is, therefore, not through Yes or No votes that legalise reverse discrimination, but by liberating the country from ethnic ideology.

Mr Kimari, a former banker, is a consultant on financial services ([email protected]).