Kenyans should learn to tolerate each other

During the requiem mass for the students who perished in a road accident in Kisii politicians and officials leaning towards the government received an unusually hostile reception. Opposition Cord leader Raila Odinga and his team were, however, accorded a rousing welcome and were roundly applauded each time they rose to speak.

The jeering of Information cabinet secretary Fred Matiang'i and former cabinet minister Sam Ongeri who is perceived to be sympathetic to the Jubilee government and refusal of the crowd to listen to President Uhuru Kenyatta's message of condolence should be denounced in the strongest terms possible. A requiem mass is a sacred event at which mourners should be conscious of the pain and loss of the bereaved families.

This rings true especially for communities from western Kenya which are famed for the seriousness with which they take mourning the loss of loved ones. Allowing political differences to dominate such a solemn event reflects badly on us and cannot, in any way, be justified. It is conduct unbecoming of any civilised society.

The conduct of the crowd at Gusii Stadium, nonetheless, points to a more serious problem that is afflicting our country. It points to long-term and historical divisions that have the potential of wreaking so much havoc in the country. It is said that 'a house divided against itself cannot stand'. When Kenyans begin to view people affiliated to either the government or opposition as enemies, more harm than good is done to the national fabric. It undermines unity leaving the country torn right in the middle.

As a matter of fact hostility towards the government was one of the reasons why the past three regimes of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki embraced a policy of skewed distribution of national resources. The three eminent Kenyans ensured that regions that were seen to be averse to the government and its policies were starved of development resources. Regions that were perceived to be friendly and supportive of the government benefited the most in the distribution of resources. In this age and time, no community would want to be left behind as others progress.

It would be recalled that the 2007-08 post-election violence, which drove Kenya right to the brink of the precipice, largely sprung out of pent-up political differences. Kenyans from diverse communities had, for far too long, been viewing each other as enemies. Underneath the seemingly innocuous and amiable exteriors resided anger and hostility towards communities that were regarded as having benefited immensely by having 'one of their own' in power. The elections and consequent claims of rigging only touched off violence that had, all along , been threatening to erupt.

No doubt no Kenyan would want to be taken back to the dark sordid past. Memories of how bad things were are still fresh in our minds. In fact many Kenyans are still reeling from the ramifications of the post-election debacle. Yet exhibiting intolerance to divergent opinion is a sure way to take us many steps back. It leaves those to whom we have been hostile looking at us as enemies even though we are all Kenyans.

True, we cannot hold the same political opinion or identify with the same political camp but we can still respectfully disagree on whatever issue that is threatening to tear us apart. Let us learn to be tolerant of each other.

This article was published in the Star Newspaper on July 27, 2013