This election may schock everyone

[Kim Jong-Un's Pajama Pants]

I will accept that observation.

My theory is that you need to have an issue then you need the tribal infrastructure for it to grow and spread.

We always cite the successful stories like that of Ouru, Raila, Ruto, but we fail to study them in depth enough to know why they have been successful.  Its much easier to just lazily credit tribe for their successful mobilization of votes across the country. 

There is more lessons to be learned from those who have tried to use the tribe as a vehicle and failed. The reason why they have failed is that they only had tribe to go with and no issue.

Those who want to influence policy by winning elections cannot just go around complaining that Kenyans vote along tribal lines or came up with lazy answers and refuse to study exactly how this phenomenon works.

I come from "scientific" kind of field where theories need to be backed by empirical data. There is a strong correlation that our voting is tribal. But as we know correlation doesn't mean causality. Good luck with that.

In 2002 Raila had an issue to split GEMA- namely "KANU/MOI Fatigue".  Kibaki was just an icing on the cake. Kibaki was not even that popular among the kikuyu but Moi/Kanu fatigue was a winning issue. Ignore ISSUE and focus on tribe at your own peril.   

That would merely tell you how one becomes a tribal kingpin.  Those are details.  But you are trying to sell them as negations of the tribal configuration of Kenyan politics.

[Kim Jong-Un's Pajama Pants]

Windy, How do you explain a poor uninsured republican in Texas who votes against Obama care and for tax cuts to the wealthy and yet he does not have healthcare or is not wealthy enough to benefit from the proposed taxes. This Texan will tell you that he believes in the capitalist system and that Obama care is socialism and cutting taxes is consistent with his capitalist beliefs.  I bet you will take this Texan at his words.  Now what if a Kikuyu tells you that he will vote for Ouru because he believes ouru did a good job and deserves a second term, will you dismiss this person as only voting for ouru because of his tribe.  What about a luo who believes that ouru did a horrible job and must go-is he saying this just because he is a luo.  I think we are too quick to use the tribal label as an explanation for everything.  I personally think ouru did a horrible job and I do not think my tribe influenced me but I believe my ideology has something to do with it.

Kichwa,

I notice you will continue wriggle and twist to fit a simple explanation into your narrative.  The fact is that Kenyans care about issues.   They don't enjoy starving or struggling to survive.  I am not aware of anyone disputing that fact. 

The point about tribe is simply that it overwhelms the other issues.  If I am Gitau, I might love some ideas that Raila suggests.  I might even prefer his platform.  But on August 8th, I am voting for my man.  That outcome might be different if Raila were Kikuyu with a strong chance of making it.

By your own and other explanations on this thread, tribe is irrelevant when it cannot be a consideration such as when considering two candidates from the same tribe.  Even then it's still in play as in 2002. 

Even at MP level, you first need to know the tribe of the candidate, and then the issues.  Most people at this level are simply non-starters because they are not part of the local tribe.  In cosmopolitan areas like Nairobi, the MPs tend to win based on where there are large concentrations of their tribe.  Luos in Kibra, Luhyas in Kangemi etc.

I noticed you keep bringing up other examples of why it's no different than the US.  But it is.  If Ben Carson or even John Lewis ran on a Republican ticket, he has no chance of bringing African Americans with him.  If it were like Kenya, they would decamp en masse and vote Republican for that election because of his tribe.

This Texan in all likelihood has always voted Republican.  You could argue his tribe is the party.  If the Republicans pick a Cuban American like Marco Rubio, he would still likely vote for him even though he might not be happy about the darkie usurping his party platform.  Put another way, the fucker might be voting like an idiot, but he is not glued to the genetics of who he votes for. 

[RV Pundit]

Kichwa himself has never supported anybody not supported by his Luo tribes men. I don't eve know if he understands what he's talking about. At least I support DP & NARC in 90s & early 2000s thanks to my father.

This Texan in all likelihood has always voted Republican.  You could argue his tribe is the party.  If the Republicans pick a Cuban American like Marco Rubio, he would still likely vote for him even though he might not be happy about the darkie usurping his party platform.  Put another way, the fucker might be voting like an idiot, but he is not glued to the genetics of who he votes for. 

[Kichwa]

Kenya is still a very young democracy and 2002 was the first truly democratic elections and I supported Kibaki. In 2007 and 2013 I supported Raila and will do the same in 2017.  Raila is not running from there henceforth.  I am a progressive even here in the US and therefore its a no-brainer that I support Raila.    I for one will not be surprised if in the very near future you will see a split in tribal votes where Kenyan  tribes no longer vote as a block. What you saw with the Kindiki brothers in Taraka Nithi will be common  place very soon. Brothers and sisters will be rooting for different presidential candidates. Its coming sooner than you think.  Like most things, the tribal voting blocks is not going to be here for ever.  This maybe your last MOAS. Its going to be the end of an era and a new unknown and exiting political era for Kenya begins.

Kichwa himself has never supported anybody not supported by his Luo tribes men. I don't eve know if he understands what he's talking about. At least I support DP & NARC in 90s & early 2000s thanks to my father.

This Texan in all likelihood has always voted Republican.  You could argue his tribe is the party.  If the Republicans pick a Cuban American like Marco Rubio, he would still likely vote for him even though he might not be happy about the darkie usurping his party platform.  Put another way, the fucker might be voting like an idiot, but he is not glued to the genetics of who he votes for. 

[Kichwa]

And why is this Texan voting Republican party no matter who the candidate?  Is it because he is an idiot, brainwashed, white, male or an ideologue?  Back to Kenya, do we have an equivalent.  Can you predict who a kikuyu will vote for with the same certainty as this Texan?  You cannot say that a luo or a kikuyu will predictably vote for a luo/kikuyu presidential candidate no matter what the issues are or no matter who the person is. 

Windy, How do you explain a poor uninsured republican in Texas who votes against Obama care and for tax cuts to the wealthy and yet he does not have healthcare or is not wealthy enough to benefit from the proposed taxes. This Texan will tell you that he believes in the capitalist system and that Obama care is socialism and cutting taxes is consistent with his capitalist beliefs.  I bet you will take this Texan at his words.  Now what if a Kikuyu tells you that he will vote for Ouru because he believes ouru did a good job and deserves a second term, will you dismiss this person as only voting for ouru because of his tribe.  What about a luo who believes that ouru did a horrible job and must go-is he saying this just because he is a luo.  I think we are too quick to use the tribal label as an explanation for everything.  I personally think ouru did a horrible job and I do not think my tribe influenced me but I believe my ideology has something to do with it.

Kichwa,

I notice you will continue wriggle and twist to fit a simple explanation into your narrative.  The fact is that Kenyans care about issues.   They don't enjoy starving or struggling to survive.  I am not aware of anyone disputing that fact. 

The point about tribe is simply that it overwhelms the other issues.  If I am Gitau, I might love some ideas that Raila suggests.  I might even prefer his platform.  But on August 8th, I am voting for my man.  That outcome might be different if Raila were Kikuyu with a strong chance of making it.

By your own and other explanations on this thread, tribe is irrelevant when it cannot be a consideration such as when considering two candidates from the same tribe.  Even then it's still in play as in 2002. 

Even at MP level, you first need to know the tribe of the candidate, and then the issues.  Most people at this level are simply non-starters because they are not part of the local tribe.  In cosmopolitan areas like Nairobi, the MPs tend to win based on where there are large concentrations of their tribe.  Luos in Kibra, Luhyas in Kangemi etc.

I noticed you keep bringing up other examples of why it's no different than the US.  But it is.  If Ben Carson or even John Lewis ran on a Republican ticket, he has no chance of bringing African Americans with him.  If it were like Kenya, they would decamp en masse and vote Republican for that election because of his tribe.

This Texan in all likelihood has always voted Republican.  You could argue his tribe is the party.  If the Republicans pick a Cuban American like Marco Rubio, he would still likely vote for him even though he might not be happy about the darkie usurping his party platform.  Put another way, the fucker might be voting like an idiot, but he is not glued to the genetics of who he votes for.

[MOON Ki]

I for one will not be surprised if in the very near future you will see a split in tribal votes where Kenyan  tribes no longer vote as a block.

I think such a "split" will happen at some point, but we most likely disagree on how near the "very near future" is.  At any rate, I doubt that it will be in 2017 or 2022.

You also appear to have finally acknowledged that Kenyan tribes vote as block.    That's pretty much one half of what I mean by "tribal voting" in Kenya.  (The other half has to do with who they vote for in a given election.) 

It also means that  Pundit's "tribe-driven" MOAS for 2017 starts on a "reasonable" basis,  and one should not object to it on the basis of "tribe".  The fundamental disagreement is in probably in the details---assumptions on turnout, how a particular tribe*** will be herded into a particular direction, etc. 

*** This is one of the "small 38"/"40%".    As you have already indicated, 60% of the prizes are determined (on a tribal basis) even before the starting gates go up.

[Kichwa]

The split has always been there and will continue to be more pronounced after the Kenyattaa/Jaramogi political divides fade.  Other than the kikuyus, Luos and Kalenjins, other tribes have always experienced some significant or even substantial levels of split.  The Kisii come to mind but I am sure if we review the statistics closer we will find more.  What I am saying is that we will see more significant splits amongs the major tribes beginning 2022.

I never denied that there is a pattern of block voting but I have argued that its not a cause/effect relationship.  In other words its the same pattern as African Americans, Hispanics, young people and people in the major urban centers voting Democratic party. In other words, its issue driven and not tribe driven.  I guess this is where we disagree and we probably at this point should agree to part ways on this matter. Its easier for a rich kikuyu and a poor kikuyu to vote for Ouru just as it is easier for a poor white and a billionaire white to vote for Trump. This does not necessarily mean that they are tribalists or racist. Its just easier for people who share the same tribe, race, religion, geographic region, and other social identifications to also share the same political ideology, however, these issues are not written is stone and therefore they shift/change because of time, education and events.  This  is why politicians campaign, to change those voting patterns or to maintain them.   
 

I for one will not be surprised if in the very near future you will see a split in tribal votes where Kenyan  tribes no longer vote as a block.

I think such a "split" will happen at some point, but we most likely disagree on how near the "very near future" is.  At any rate, I doubt that it will be in 2017 or 2022.

You also appear to have finally acknowledged that Kenyan tribes vote as block.    That's pretty much one half of what I mean by "tribal voting" in Kenya.  (The other half has to do with who they vote for in a given election.) 

It also means that  Pundit's "tribe-driven" MOAS for 2017 starts on a "reasonable" basis,  and one should not object to it on the basis of "tribe".  The fundamental disagreement is in probably in the details---assumptions on turnout, how a particular tribe*** will be herded into a particular direction, etc. 

*** This is one of the "small 38"/"40%".    As you have already indicated, 60% of the prizes are determined (on a tribal basis) even before the starting gates go up.

[MOON Ki]

In other words, its issue driven and not tribe driven.  I guess this is where we disagree and we probably at this point should agree to part ways on this matter. Its easier for a rich kikuyu and a poor kikuyu to vote for Ouru just as it is easier for a poor white and a billionaire white to vote for Trump. This does not necessarily mean that they are tribalists or racist. Its just easier for people who share the same tribe, race, religion, geographic region, and other social identifications to also share the same political ideology, however, these issues are not written is stone and therefore they shift/change because of time, education and events.  This  is why politicians campaign, to change those voting patterns or to maintain them.   

OK, probably my last on this one:

I really can't come up with detailed "social science" explanation of why Kenyans vote the way they do.  Nor can I give any objective figures about the extent to which they care about "issues".   But to my mind that doesn't matter in terms of predicting results, because "tribe" suffices for that.  In particular, you yourself have already given us an "accounting" in which 60% of the vote is already determined by tribal voting among the Big 4.

Maybe those in the 60% care deeply about the "issues", maybe they don't.  I really can't tell.   But that doesn't matter to me, because I already have a pretty good idea of how Luos, Kalenjins, Kikuyus, and Kambaas will vote in 2017; and I have seen nothing to suggest that a non-trivial number in the Big-4/60% will budge because of a "manifesto" put forth, a clearer articulation on "issues/ideology", etc.   I also have a pretty good idea on how the "Tier 2" ones (Luhyas etc.) will vote.    Things get tricky only at the El -Molo level, which is 0.000...%?

SIDE NOTE:  I disagree with your view (explicit or implicit) that if people succeed in Kenyan politics (or politics anywhere, for that matter) it must be because of their excellent articulation of issues and ideology.  As an example, by definition, a demagogue succeeds simply by appealing to the basest instincts of the masses. Now, let's consider one of the "big ones" you have offered us.  You stated that

Now what if a Kikuyu tells you that he will vote for Ouru because he believes ouru did a good job and deserves a second term, will you dismiss this person as only voting for ouru because of his tribe.
...
We always cite the successful stories like that of Ouru, Raila, Ruto, but we fail to study them in depth enough to know why they have been successful. 

So, then.   Before the PEV, Uhuru was just a drunken "also-ran",  with a Daddy who ....    Sponsoring atrocities against others (especially Luos)---thus convincing Kikuyus that he was their saviour---indulging in and supporting "tribal" calumny, ... , were those the issues and ideology that propelled him into the Muthamaki  seat?  (Your example;  you tell us.)    And if, say, Uhuru suffered liver failure today, died, and got replaced with Peter Kenneth or maybe even Moses Kuria, would the votes of those "our people"  suddenly become transferable?  .............. END OF SIDE NOTE.   

My thoughts on this elections were that for the Opposition to they would have to:

(a) ensure that their supporters---whether categorized by "tribe" or by "issues"---registered in massive numbers;

(b) do a better job on turnout than they did in 2013;

(c) the combination of (a) and (b) sufficient to ensure a "rig-proof" majority.

I wrote quite a bit on (a), and you, Omollo, and I exchanged views on the same.    I'm not sure that they did (a), but I haven't seen the official numbers, so I can't comment any further.   I don't know what the strategy and situation are with regard to (b), but I hope it does not revolve on the assumption (proven wrong in the past) that huge crowds at rallies mean so many votes in the bag.   

I have no great expertise in politics, but after the last elections, I did a "project-management exercise" on how the Opposition might go about winning the next elections---what they would have to do, when it have to be done, who would do what, where, plans for contingencies for missed deadlines and "non-deliverables", when to start (right after the last elections!), etc.  I have seen little of that.  Yes, mine was an "amateur project plan", but still.   

I don't see the Opposition offering Kenyans much of a serious alternative.    To the extent that it might be considered a selling point, theirs is that since Kenyans don't seem to really mind incompetents and thieves in charge of the country, there should at least be a new set of incompetents and thieves.   Variety is the spice of life.   Or something.   On that basis, my support is NASA-51% and Jubilee-49%. New spice of life. Or something.

[Kadame5]

@Moon Ki, the way you come across when you are talking to people you disagree with is VEEEERRRY condescending, just to inform you. Ive noticed it when you are talking to Pundit especially, whom you seem to mock rather than disagree with.

You think so?  Would that be the same Pundit who served me the following in just one recent thread?

There you start with you ignorance. Why not google stuff. Why not do you homework.

Do your homework. Google. That is what we software engineers do. Help ignorant people look smart.

Okay this is just too much foolishness on a friday. You want me to help with English comprehension too?.

Perhaps I should instead be offering him blowjobs? 

As for Kichwa, he did get an apology, which Jesus apparently missed in the rush to denounce the Pharisee.

You are wont to assume this preacher air, like a bible thumper without a bible, honestly. I know this post will come across like it's unfriendly, but it's really not intended to be. Please check the way you talk to people you disagree with. Don't come across like you assume/you just know/its settled you are holier than thou and know so much better. As someone who expresses a sharp dislike of religion, I hope you understand that your manner of communicating disagreements comes across very pharisaical. You sound like you are trying to teach a child or someone you think is childish when you are talking to adults, none of whom are idiots. You did it to me a few weeks ago and I opted not to point it out then but really, I think it's something you need to check. Iyo tu.

As you read various comments on nipate.org, try applying the red standard to them. If you come across anyone who seems to assume or just know or ... you should take out your firimbi and do the needful. (Thank you for your valuable services to Nipate.

OK, you've expressed your views, for which just one sentence (or two at the most) would have sufficed.   Now run along and find something useful to do.

OK, you're right. Reading that now, I thought it was much more blunt and wordy than Id imagined it in my head while writing this morning. It's condenscending actually, go figure. Anyway, my apologies.

[Kichwa]

As I explained earlier,  the predictability of this  tribal voting patterns  can be attributed mainly to the effects of the Jaramogi/Kenyattaa epic ideological disagreement/battle which span almost five decades and has greatly influenced Kenya's political landscape.  That era will come to an end very soon when a Kenyattaa and Odinga are no longer on the ballot or on the political center stage.  Kenya has a growing young population of voters born after 2000 coming of age. They have no emotional attachment to that political era its not going to be easy to predict the tribal votes they way were are used to.  There is still going to be a political pattern for post election forensics but is going to be all over the place.   Some people are getting too comfortable with this tribal voting patterns that we are used to and  I wanted to warn them that it is not written in stone we should prepare for the post 2017 elections where the current tribal voting assumptions may cease to work or even make sense. I rest my case for now.

In other words, its issue driven and not tribe driven.  I guess this is where we disagree and we probably at this point should agree to part ways on this matter. Its easier for a rich kikuyu and a poor kikuyu to vote for Ouru just as it is easier for a poor white and a billionaire white to vote for Trump. This does not necessarily mean that they are tribalists or racist. Its just easier for people who share the same tribe, race, religion, geographic region, and other social identifications to also share the same political ideology, however, these issues are not written is stone and therefore they shift/change because of time, education and events.  This  is why politicians campaign, to change those voting patterns or to maintain them.   

OK, probably my last on this one:

I really can't come up with detailed "social science" explanation of why Kenyans vote the way they do.  Nor can I give any objective figures about the extent to which they care about "issues".   But to my mind that doesn't matter in terms of predicting results, because "tribe" suffices for that.  In particular, you yourself have already given us an "accounting" in which 60% of the vote is already determined by tribal voting among the Big 4.

Maybe those in the 60% care deeply about the "issues", maybe they don't.  I really can't tell.   But that doesn't matter to me, because I already have a pretty good idea of how Luos, Kalenjins, Kikuyus, and Kambaas will vote in 2017; and I have seen nothing to suggest that a non-trivial number in the Big-4/60% will budge because of a "manifesto" put forth, a clearer articulation on "issues/ideology", etc.   I also have a pretty good idea on how the "Tier 2" ones (Luhyas etc.) will vote.    Things get tricky only at the El -Molo level, which is 0.000...%?

SIDE NOTE:  I disagree with your view (explicit or implicit) that if people succeed in Kenyan politics (or politics anywhere, for that matter) it must be because of their excellent articulation of issues and ideology.  As an example, by definition, a demagogue succeeds simply by appealing to the basest instincts of the masses. Now, let's consider one of the "big ones" you have offered us.  You stated that

Now what if a Kikuyu tells you that he will vote for Ouru because he believes ouru did a good job and deserves a second term, will you dismiss this person as only voting for ouru because of his tribe.
...
We always cite the successful stories like that of Ouru, Raila, Ruto, but we fail to study them in depth enough to know why they have been successful. 

So, then.   Before the PEV, Uhuru was just a drunken "also-ran",  with a Daddy who ....    Sponsoring atrocities against others (especially Luos)---thus convincing Kikuyus that he was their saviour---indulging in and supporting "tribal" calumny, ... , were those the issues and ideology that propelled him into the Muthamaki  seat?  (Your example;  you tell us.)    And if, say, Uhuru suffered liver failure today, died, and got replaced with Peter Kenneth or maybe even Moses Kuria, would the votes of those "our people"  suddenly become transferable?  .............. END OF SIDE NOTE.   

My thoughts on this elections were that for the Opposition to they would have to:

(a) ensure that their supporters---whether categorized by "tribe" or by "issues"---registered in massive numbers;

(b) do a better job on turnout than they did in 2013;

(c) the combination of (a) and (b) sufficient to ensure a "rig-proof" majority.

I wrote quite a bit on (a), and you, Omollo, and I exchanged views on the same.    I'm not sure that they did (a), but I haven't seen the official numbers, so I can't comment any further.   I don't know what the strategy and situation are with regard to (b), but I hope it does not revolve on the assumption (proven wrong in the past) that huge crowds at rallies mean so many votes in the bag.   

I have no great expertise in politics, but after the last elections, I did a "project-management exercise" on how the Opposition might go about winning the next elections---what they would have to do, when it have to be done, who would do what, where, plans for contingencies for missed deadlines and "non-deliverables", when to start (right after the last elections!), etc.  I have seen little of that.  Yes, mine was an "amateur project plan", but still.   

I don't see the Opposition offering Kenyans much of a serious alternative.    To the extent that it might be considered a selling point, theirs is that since Kenyans don't seem to really mind incompetents and thieves in charge of the country, there should at least be a new set of incompetents and thieves.   Variety is the spice of life.   Or something.   On that basis, my support is NASA-51% and Jubilee-49%. New spice of life. Or something.

[Omollo]

KM

I wish I had enough time to give you a rough overview of the foundations of tribalism in Kenyan politics.

I can refer you to read about the 1966 Pioneer Rigged Elections. The idea was to isolate Odinga and Luos. KPU had more Kikuyu nationalists in its ranks than Luo Mps. Kenyatta was determined to project the nationalists as tribalists and he, a tribalist present himself as a nationalist. he had the entire government machinery to work for him and he did achieve that - eventually. We know there was oathing.

When Moi took over, he was keen to continue the same policy. He appointed a Kikuyu as VP so that the Kalenjin-Luo alliance could proceed. But try as he did, the Kikuyu Clerisy rejected him as they wanted a Kikuyu to be the leader of the alliance.

Moi with the help of Njonjo continued the demonization of jaramogi using every excuse to rekindle the hate between the Luo and Kikuyu. For example when Jaramogi mentioned that he split from Kenyatta because of land grabbing, MKoi siezed on it.

When SM Otieno died, Moi got involved in ensuring that there was a dispute which was carried by every media house and radio with bellicose statements. Jaramogi went on record to counter some of the claims like Luos have no homes in Nairobi by saying a Luo can have a home anywhere on earth. He got fire for it from Moi's Luo sycophants.

The tactic was to practice as much tribalism as possible but keep preaching against "tribalism". Thus people even started thinking saying you are a Pokomo or Kikuyu amounted to tribalism. Anybody who dared to point out the real tribalism like the lack of diversity in public appointments was labeled a tribalist. This still goes on even here.

I do not see people of different tribes voting for different candidates as tribalism. There is no Coastal Kenyan in the pentagon but coast people vote for NASA. There are more tribes without their demagogue in the leadership that vote for a party. Just like I do not expect Corsican nationalists or Bask separatists to vote for mainstream political parties in France and Spain respectively.

we need to embrace diversity and use it rather than condemn it for all the wrong reasons.

[Kichwa]

I actually agree with you. There is an attempt to reduce the voting patterns to mere tribalism, however, as you correctly stated there are serious issues behind the tribal voting patterns. I consider myself educated but my support for Raila has been reduced to tribal voting and the fact that there are people from other tribes who have voted for Raila for the same ideological reasons as I have is ignored. In an expedient attempt to justify that Kenyans do not care about any issue except tribalism, the elitist have reduced the attempt by many Kenyan voters to speak out against social and economic ills to mere tribalism.  There are Kenyans who will be voting for NASA because they want change and a better country.  They will be voting for NASA because they are tired of the mismanagement of the economy, corruption, tribalism, marginalization, impunity and all the ills that afflict this country but in the end they are all being reduced to sheep following tribal kingpins blindly. There is no distinction made between those knowingly vote to keep incompetent arrogant drunken thieves in power and those voting to remove replace them with better leaders.  There is no distinction made between those who exclusively vote for their tribes mates and those who cross tribal lines each election. The voters are all being lamped together as tribal voting machines incapable of formulating an ideology. There is an assumption that an ideology is a very complex thing that only an educated African or people residing in the west are capable of.  All we are capable of in Africa is following our tribal leaders like sheep.    It is very sad.

KM

I wish I had enough time to give you a rough overview of the foundations of tribalism in Kenyan politics.

I can refer you to read about the 1966 Pioneer Rigged Elections. The idea was to isolate Odinga and Luos. KPU had more Kikuyu nationalists in its ranks than Luo Mps. Kenyatta was determined to project the nationalists as tribalists and he, a tribalist present himself as a nationalist. he had the entire government machinery to work for him and he did achieve that - eventually. We know there was oathing.

When Moi took over, he was keen to continue the same policy. He appointed a Kikuyu as VP so that the Kalenjin-Luo alliance could proceed. But try as he did, the Kikuyu Clerisy rejected him as they wanted a Kikuyu to be the leader of the alliance.

Moi with the help of Njonjo continued the demonization of jaramogi using every excuse to rekindle the hate between the Luo and Kikuyu. For example when Jaramogi mentioned that he split from Kenyatta because of land grabbing, MKoi siezed on it.

When SM Otieno died, Moi got involved in ensuring that there was a dispute which was carried by every media house and radio with bellicose statements. Jaramogi went on record to counter some of the claims like Luos have no homes in Nairobi by saying a Luo can have a home anywhere on earth. He got fire for it from Moi's Luo sycophants.

The tactic was to practice as much tribalism as possible but keep preaching against "tribalism". Thus people even started thinking saying you are a Pokomo or Kikuyu amounted to tribalism. Anybody who dared to point out the real tribalism like the lack of diversity in public appointments was labeled a tribalist. This still goes on even here.

I do not see people of different tribes voting for different candidates as tribalism. There is no Coastal Kenyan in the pentagon but coast people vote for NASA. There are more tribes without their demagogue in the leadership that vote for a party. Just like I do not expect Corsican nationalists or Bask separatists to vote for mainstream political parties in France and Spain respectively.

we need to embrace diversity and use it rather than condemn it for all the wrong reasons.

[Mr Mansfield.]

nonsense,

Without Prejudice.