FIGHTING TRIBALISM: BEYOND ODM, BEYOND PNU

• I am not denying that there is an underlying and urgent need for the settlement of the election 07 fiasco.

• I am not denying that it is imperative that a solution to the deadlock be found to ensure lasting peace and stability in Kenya.

However, we can put that aside for a moment, shed off the ODM or PNU tags and talk about the KENYA beyond our generation.

One thing that is juttingly clear is that we have a problem of tribalism in Kenya. I would argue that tribalism is the biggest challenge to ever face our generation...up there with AIDS.

The sad thing is that we have all buried our faces in the sand and wished it away. If we start by acknowledging that this is a problem then we would have begun fixing it.

We need a national program designed to foster unity among all Kenyans. The government should consider funding inter-province exchange programs so as to expose kids at an early age to other cultures and people within Kenya.

Young people, and that includes anyone reading this, should form a lobby that identifies leaders that fuel tribalism, censure them and work to get them elected out of office. Likewise we should recognize and support leaders who are progressive and work for the unity of the Kenyan people.

We all have a part to play in this. Kenya must live beyond us. The Kenyan Nelson Mandela is going to be that person who speaks to all the Kenyan tribes and they believe him to be speaking for them and from the heart.