Public display of friendship between Uhuru and Raila good

When you hear a dog barking, do not admonish it. Look for its master instead. This statement has been used on several occasions especially by politicians in this country to respond to not-so-friendly pronouncements directed at them by players of competing camps.

We have heard it from those in government and heard it from the Opposition, depending on what side has been rattled, over time. The statement is, in most cases, used by those who consider themselves too senior to respond to accusatory or derogatory sentiments attributed to a junior member of an antagonistic party. It is a way of saying “Hey, I don’t like what you have done but I know it is not your idea originally. I will sort it out with the one who sent you!”. And with that, the argument is settled and the instigator of the offending act is let off the hook and left reeling in the effects of the contemptuous dismissal.

LEADERS' CORDIALITY

But when I saw the cordiality between President Uhuru Kenyatta and de facto opposition leader Raila Odinga at the burial of Interior and National Co-ordination Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery last Saturday, I knew we as a nation are capable of practising mature democracy where competition is not necessarily hate.

A similar picture was painted on Sunday when the Orange Democratic Movement presidential candidate met President Kenyatta’s running mate and Deputy President William Ruto of the Jubilee Party at Safaricom Stadium Kasarani during the closing ceremony of the IAAF World U18 Championships. It reminded me, also, of the memorial service of Kenyatta’s father and Kenya's first president Jomo last October when the current Head of State and Odinga exhibited a brotherly bond. After the two spoke, and reading their respective body languages in both instances, I got convinced. These two gentlemen are bosom friends and their relationship goes way back, more than their own generation. And their collective unspoken message to the public during the events was crystal clear. Kenyatta and Odinga were very categorical that regardless of the apparent competition for power between them, their short- and long-term interests are the same. Kenyans will choose what to read from the statements the two leaders made. But what is not disputable is that, where it counts most and where their interests converge, they will always have each other’s back. And that is the spirit that should be encouraged at all levels of the national life and the relationships we have among ourselves.

MORE SHARED

Every individual citizen needs to appreciate that whatever differences in the opinion we have, there is more that we share and that we should be willing to sacrifice anything to protect. The two leaders, in words, vowed that they will do everything in their power to ensure that “no blood is shed” in pursuit of political power. And there is just what they can do, that which is in their power. The two might not be held responsible for what you and I do. It is just not in their power to control what I do to you and vice versa.

There is so much we stand for in this country, so much that we value as a people. We need to identify what it is that matters to as and endeavour to do whatever is in our power to protect it.

There has always been verbal consensus that, in reality, the problems we have in this country, have or should have, nothing to do with our tribes or ethnic orientation. We are actually living in a generation in which brandishing the ethnic card in committing an injustice is not only primitive but plain stupid. Those who buy and support such an act are intellectually deaf and dumb. This is so because in most urban centres, where the majority of opinion leaders live, so many households are of mixed ethnicity – a Luhya father, a Mijikenda mother and a child who is, well, just Kenyan. The problems we have in Kenya, have everything to do with class. They are economic rather than social. Wanjiku needs to be careful how she treats Anyango the next time they have political differences. But I digress.

CONCRETE FOUNDATION

During the memorial for the senior Kenyatta, Odinga made it known that the friendship of the two families is founded on concrete. He even cited the President’s mother as a witness to the veracity of that position. These are the two families that have presided over the political leadership of this country since the era of the struggle for independence to now. Their representatives are telling us to ignore what may look like fights between them; that is just for the show. Deep down, the Kenyattas and the Odingas are a team and that is what we should always strive to be: Team Kenya.

With this realisation then we can focus on sorting out our real problem. We should direct all our energies at acquiring economic independence and improve the wellbeing of our families, provide food and a good education to our children who are neither Luhya nor Mijikenda, Kikuyu nor Luo.

Which brings me to the question: when we hear political minions spewing hate speech against communities and individuals, on whose behalf are they doing it? Just who is the master of the dog that keeps barking tribalism?

Michael Cherambos is a communications consultant based in Nairobi.