I must confess at the outset that this is not intended to be a political commentary but my own perspective, right or wrong, about what I percieve to be happening.
The internet and social media is currently awash with a lot of hate speech and hate filled comments from one or the other side of the political supporters of the leading lights of the just concluded general election in Kenya. It is getting vicious and nasty and is now degenerating into tribal vitriol complete with disgusting posts in particularly bad taste regarding dogs mauling people from one side of the political divide though the analogy is certainly lost on me in terms of its relevance to what is happening on the ground. The relevant agency that is responsible for controlling this sudden outpouring of juvenile and puerile venom has its work cut out for it.
Recently, I came across some very emotional comments by one Facebook blogger (who I hope has been given the almighty ‘unlike’ boot by many of his followers and friends) who very vehemently went on and on about hating passionately people from a certain tribe in Kenya and how he would not wish to associate himself with them. It got me wondering whether that person is indeed living in Kenya or somewhere in the diaspora. The reason I ask this is how would he fail to associate with the people he so claims to hate if he lived in Kenya?
It matters not whether you are in school, university, working or in self-employment because you must inevitably associate with one or the other of those that you claim to hate whether as a teacher, a lecturer, your boss, your fellow colleague, your customer, your supplier, your plumber, the person you are standing next to in the queue to pay your bills or even that chap you stand next to as you take a leak in the toilet.
It is also very likely that you will interact with those that you claim to passionately detest simply because they are the ones to take your matatu fare, drive you on the bus or train, serve you a cup of tea or a beer at a bar, ring up your shopping at the local store or supermarket, sell you your favorite cut of meat or vegetables, give you a haircut or shave at your local barber shop, polish your shoes, service your vehicle, make you a sofa set, serve you at the bank counter, wait on you as you purchase uniform for your child and so one.
It could also be that man or woman who guards your belongings at the supermarket or that complete stranger who guides you to your chair in the darkened movie theatre or even that policeman who directs traffic at the roundabout so that you get home as quickly as possible. It could also be that very helpful call centre person that you talk to when your credit has been 'swallowed' by the phone and you are at your wits end or even that zumba or gym instructor that you so admire. Dare I say that that musician that you so adore belting out your favorite tune or the producer responsible for ensuring that the lyrics come out just right could be from that tribe you so abhor!
What about that award winning columnist or photo journalist that wrote a great article about you or your company or the praises from a myriad of people that you received about an achievement that you have accomplished? Is it possible that he (or they) is from that tribe that you have so virulently distanced yourself from? Is it likely that you ask of the tribal identity of the pilot of the Kenya Airways flight that you are boarding for that long flight to Europe or do you just trustingly board the flight believing that the airline has hired the best qualified person for the job?
I am yet to come across anyone with a (small or) huge label on his or her forehead or some other prominent part of their anatomy proudly announcing to all and sundry which ‘kabila’ they belong to since this would make it much easier to identify those that you want to avoid. I would also like to imagine that while we all have our stereotypes of how people from a certain tribe should look like or behave; this is usually a juvenile game of hit or miss game that should be shunned by responsible people.
So, to those who profess unbridled hatred for those from certain tribes, do you really know what you are talking about or is this just an act you put on to conform to a certain illogical mindset? How do you ensure that you avoid those that you feel could murder you in your sleep, slip a vial of poison into your drink or slit your throat as they shave your beard in the absence of any unique identifying mark making them out to be what they are? Aren’t you being a mere hypocrite pretending that you hate that fellow from another tribe passionately while at the same time ignoring those that offer you services and belong to that same group that you hate.
In closing, I came across an article on the internet entitled ‘You are what you hate’ and that can be accessed vide the link http://www.lollydaskal.com/leadership/you-are-what-you-hate/ This article will provide some insights into the meaning of hate as well as some deeper understanding of it!
Spread the word that those who profess hate may be enlightened.