NATIONAL COHESION WILL NOT BE ACHIEVED THROUGH INTIMIDATION

                     What is national cohesion? What is unity? What constitutes national cohesion?....These are some of the questions I asked myself when some misguided chaps tried to block the airing of the play 'Shackles of Doom' by Butere Girls in the ongoing National Music Competition. Their reason?...that the play 'undermined national cohesion'. From the face of this argument, it is clear that there is total misunderstanding of the meaning of national cohesion.  Those  opposing the play seem to be telling us that to achieve national cohesion we should not say the truth. We should be silenced.

                    But when will kenyans live in unity if they are disallowed from discussing openly the problems bedeviling them? Methinks unity is a fruit of dialogue. It is a product of fertile talks. Answers are found in talking,talking and talking. Silence is what has sunk Kenya into this pit of hatred. I think these misguided bureaucrats ought to know some facts right. That freedom is the reward for speaking truth. That lasting peace is anchored on a society that speaks openly with itself. That national cohesion can't be forced on the masses. National cohesion is born within the masses,individually and collectively,as a result of talking,talking and talking to one another. That through speaking people get the knowledge to understand one another.

                     It is therefore foolhardy for a nation to aspire to live in unity and still suppress the voices of the masses. To do this is like aspiring to see paradise and yet refuse to die. The two sides are linked. You can't eliminate one and expect the other to exist. It is therefore high time for some thick-headed bureaucrats to understand that kenyans have come of age. Kenyans are now ready to embrace dialogue in the pursuit of a cohesive society. Any move against this is a coup against the masses. It is an insult against the collective conscience of kenyans to try to block those kids from airing out what is already in the public domain.

                      A society that sings its ills and challenges, is not only strong but peace loving. A silent one speaks in actions. It finds it easy to slaughter the other guy across the road 'because that is the only way it can open up its soul'. It is a blessing to see our kids, mothers, fathers, youths, everybody....talk about the ills within us for that is the  surest and safest path to a cohesive and peaceful Kenya. Any move to remove this component will lead to 'actionable talks'. And when it reaches there, don't complain that the people are evil and intolerant. That is the only way they can 'speak' after being silenced. Think,think hard before silencing our kids!