ODM-PNU Feud, Now is the time for the Church

In the run up to the General election in 2007, the country got so polarised on ethnic grounds such that it was not possible for one to help but notice that in a certain sense Kenya is a patchwork of different tribes. It become more important that we belonged to this or the other tribe than that we are Kenyans. "Ethnic egos" got inflated and burst, nay exploded, at a great cost to our beloved country. Indeed, in our entire half-centennial history as an independent nation, no violence of the magnitude witnessed in the 2007 PEV has been recorded. It was a tme when we saw the highest number of kenyans either killed, maimed or disposessed of property purely on ethnic grounds (with some political nuances).

Over the weekend, the two principals and their lieutenants marched off to some game resort to square out grand issues partaining to the running of the grand government, and to our shock and dismay theyve returned with both guns out, barells blazing. The politicians have started hurling insults and epithets at one another and issueing ultimatums on this and that. You get the feeling that we are in poorly maintained matatu under the control of a drunken driver overspeeding on a badly potholed road - real bumpy. If the current wave of discontent runs on for another week or two, we will get involved. Not as kenyans, but as kalenjins, as kambas, as Luhyas... coz thats the paradigm politicians use to settle their scores, and its only a matter of days before they begin playing the ethnic card.

Its my opinion that this country cannot be entrusted to the political class alone to determine its course. It leaves us at their mercy and we are very exposed to their misjudgements and shortsightedness. granted, not all of them are necessarily decadent, but one way or another they all have party loyalties and will be bound to the positions of their sponsoring parties which eventually becomes ethnic.

As kenyans there are two things we must do at this time if we are to nip this upcoming crisis in the bud. The first step is personal and will call for every one to determine it in their souls who they really are, tribe first or kenya first. If all of us determine that we will not allow the political class to sway us into 'tribal cocuns', then they will be forced to seek an alternative paradigm from which to settle their scores. The Unity and well being of this country lies in the hands of every well meaning Kenyan who will refuse to look at a fellow kenyan as a memeber of this tribe or the other, but as someone with whom he has a common destiny, a shared future and God given brotherhood. It starts with you and me.

Secondly, the church (especially the leadership) was accused of not being there for the country when the country was burninig, that churches got swayed by the political views and machinations of 'their sons' so much so that it had no voice or influence in the ensuing melee. I believe that this is a second opportunity for the church to arise and unite the country. The ODM-PNU feud has been with us longer than the coalition government has been, and we have no guarantee that it will end soon. In fact, the open daggers now drawn by none other than the principals themselves leaves you with a spine chilling effect suggesting that it is about to enter into some climax of sorts. "It is coming out clearly that we have two centres of power and Kenyans need to brace for hard times," said Khalwale who is the Ikolomani MP{Quote from The Standard}. There may be political issues to settle but at this point we need a guardian to look after us- after the unity of this country, as our 'parents' sort out their mariage. Beyond the verdict of a moribund presidency and an ineffectual primiership, what alternatives does the church have for us? Will the church and especially its leadership arise?