#LEMUKOL_ARCHITECTS_JUNE2014

TERROR, BLOOD, HATRED: PARALLELISM OF KENYA'S 'TRIBAL' WARS

In March this year I was requested to write an opinion piece on the importance of remembering and learning from past conflicts, mass killing, and genocides (read:  http://lemukolwords.blogspot.com/2014/03/why-is-it-important-to-remember-1994.html ) - in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda.

Today I am confronted with this same question with respect to the cries and lamentations of Kenyans arising from tribal feuds and fights. I tend to believe that there exist parallels between the Rwandan genocide and the treacherous path Kenyans are taking.

It is crystal clear from the Rwandan experience that genocide of any magnitude can be prevented. Of great concern too is the fact that genocide, if not checked in the minds of a people, can blow up to unimaginable proportions.

Now, what is the link between the genocide against the Tutsis and Kenya's 'tribal' wars? To equate the Rwandan experience to Kenya's 'normalised' tribal/ethnic flare-ups may sound frightening but the growing negativity among Kenyans and hyperbolic levels of hatred between communities must – and should - force any right-thinking and patriotic Kenyan to think of ways to mitigate the situation before it gets out of hand. 

The 'tribal curse' has once again reared its ugly head. This time round it is stronger, focused and energised. It is aiming at its targets with the precision of a marksman. It is killing and leaving a trail of destruction of unimaginable proportions. 

For the past six months, Kenyans have been treated to an endless orgy of criminal activities ranging from bombings to village raids, from street robberies to church shootings, from 'tribal' massacres to terror threats.

All along the government has been singing and assuring Kenyans the all-is-well and we-are-on-top-of-things hymns. Promises of action against alleged perpetrators of these criminal activities have not materialised. Burning questions about the motive of these acts, the brains behind them and their ultimate goal still remain unanswered.

Instead, Kenyans - and the world - are treated to a painful and juvenile drama of accusations and counter-accusations. 

That notwithstanding, I think there is more to this bloodbath than just tribal fights. A nation claiming to be fifty years old cannot just erupt and burn without reasons. I believe there could be two possible links to this orgy. One being the government's inaction and/or silence. The second being the non-state actors including but not limited to the overstretched and insecure citizens.

In "Becoming Evil; How Ordinary People Commit Genocide and Mass Killing" , James Waller underlines that: The greatest catastrophes occur when the distinctions between war and crime fade; when there is dissolution of the boundaries between military and criminal conduct, between civility and barbarity; when political, social, or religious groups embrace collective violence against a defenseless victim group as warfare or, perhaps worse yet, as “progress.”

He further outlines two categories of violence. Violence "from below", that is, violence motivated by grievances against, or ideologies opposed to an existing state. In this case, populations resort to violence against alleged "supporters or sympathizers" of the opposing side to vent their anger and "send a clear signal".

This may be due to a breakdown of communication avenues through which aggrieved groups, tribes, gender or community can channel their grievances. This may also be as a result of lack of trust in the existing channels of public dialogue.

The second category is violence "from above". This is generally state-directed violence against its citizens as a means of checking dissent or simply as a tool to maintain status-quo and state monopoly. No doubt, this is the largest contributor to human suffering and the reason why citizens may resort - albeit all connected consequences - to using unlawful means to speak. 

For the Kenyan case, this can be narrowed down to the curse of knowledge and total disconnect between the ruling elite and the masses. Those better placed to steer the nation in the right direction have failed to grasp the demands of the common man. It is this continued sense of neglect that is to blame for tribal eruptions that characterize our ways of interacting with others.

The total neglect of police welfare should push every Kenyan to point fingers at the government. We have failed to understand that law enforcement is not all about vehicles and guns. You cannot expect an officer living under a licking roof to be as effective as a well-oiled criminal or tribal warlord.

Policing is first about the body, soul and spirit of officers before we think of blaming them of inaction. A bellyful and stress-free cop is an asset to the nation and is better placed to thwart criminal acts.

Kenya's tribal wars, therefore, ought to be understood not as a finality of all challenges befalling Kenyans but as a sign of an existence of a greater challenge that calls for an urgent top-down intervention.

When we understand the extraordinary tribal evil stalking Kenya, we will be less likely to be surprised by evil, less likely to be the unwitting contributors to hatred and ethnic-directed murders, and perhaps better placed to forestall its (tribal) manifestations.

Perhaps, it is time we should think of revisiting and implementing past reports, especially the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Report. We cannot bury our heads in the sand and expect land feuds and historical injustices to die a natural death.

These past events need a comprehensive and committed closure for all to enjoy a peaceful and cohesive Kenya.

Twiiter: @mlemukol. Email: lemoseh89@gmail.com

SEXUAL TERRORISM: REAL MEN DON'T RAPE; THEY SEDUCE

Nobel Peace Prize winner and environmentalist the late Ms Wangari Maathai

No doubt. Terrorism has been the in-thing of the past decade. We have experienced heightened security changes and enhancements, and crackdowns on suspected terror agents. We have seen parliaments across the globe passing stricter anti-terror legislations and expanding law enforcement powers. 

Even parameters for picking personal friends have changed. All these, we are told, are necessary measures to deal a blow to terrorism and maintain world peace.

But as we fortify our defenses in a bid to thwart terror activities, we have forgotten that there exists an age-old scourge that has refused to die. Sexual terrorism still reigns supreme. It is growing by seconds. Its targets are not national armies, militias or police. It targets the usual suspects - women, girls and boys.

Look, this will leave you tormented. According to UN-Women, a United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, between 15 and 76 percent of women are targeted for physical and/or sexual violence. Surprisingly, most of this violence takes place within intimate relationships (with a majority of them going unreported and/or rarely dealt with by authorities).

Worldwide, up to 50 percent of sexual assaults are committed against girls under 16. An estimated 150 million girls under the age of 18 suffer some form of sexual violence every year. The first sexual experience of some 30 percent of women was forced. The percentage is even higher among those who were under 15 at the time of their sexual initiation, with up to 45 percent reporting that the experience was forced.

Approximately 100 to 140 million girls and women in the world have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting, with more than 3 million girls in Africa annually at risk of the practice. Over 60 million girls worldwide are child brides, married before the age of 18, primarily in South Asia (31.3 million) and sub-Saharan Africa (14.1 million). Violence and abuse characterize married life for many of these girls. 

The report further states that women who marry early are more likely to be beaten or threatened, and more likely to believe that a husband might sometimes be justified in beating his wife. 

Women and girls are 80 percent of the estimated 800,000 people trafficked across national borders annually, with the majority (79 percent) trafficked for sexual exploitation. Within countries, many more women and girls are trafficked, often for purposes of sexual exploitation or domestic servitude.

From these statistics, it is evident to deduce that the existential war bedeviling humanity in general and women in particular, is not about guns, bullets and bombs. This war is leaving permanent, painful scars on the soul, body and mind of our mothers, sisters and brothers. 

Still on the same, the World Health Organization lists Africa as one of the most dangerous places for women to live at 36.6 percent  lifetime prevalence of physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence among ever-partnered women and 11.9 percent prevalence rate for non-partner sexual violence.

Frankly speaking, there are serious gaps that must be sealed to alleviate the pain experienced by women, girls and boys - and especially those from poor backgrounds and/or war ravaged countries and/or communities. 

Of great concern is to economically empower these target groups. It is proven that people, countries and/or communities with high economic ranking experience diminished rates of sexual violence and all its connected risks.

It is justly; therefore, to conclude that the more an individual experiences economic improvement, the more s/he becomes aware of his/her rights and modalities to protect them. This in turn leads to reduction of risks associated with sexual violence.

Closely related to this is the issue of maternal and infant deaths arising from absence and/or lack of health personnel, scarce health facilities, mobility to and from hospitals in case of emergencies, and lack of awareness on the importance of maintaining high hygienic standards especially when dealing with infants and mothers. 

Perhaps, it is time we all rise up and say NO to this continued sufferance. And believe you me: It is doable. We can stop maternal and infant deaths. We can put a smile on our mothers' faces. We can bring the needed services closer to them.

And for our young mothers – those arising from teenage pregnancies – it is time we courageously confront the elephant in the room. Most of these unwanted pregnancies are as result of our "permanent and unbended" philosophies blocking us from closely interacting with our children with a view to arming them with useful knowledge on matters sex education and personal etiquette.

To run away from this noble act is, in my opinion, an admission of our lopsided thinking and hypocritical tendencies.

We need to tame our boys and men, and prevail upon them to diverge their energies to other meaningful ventures. At least, to save our girls and women!

And for those who think they can forcefully snatch that fruit from our women and girls, it is better they know this; real men don’t rape, they seduce. And we count on their cooperation to make this planet a peaceful and secure place for all.

Twitter: @mlemukol. Email: lemoseh89@gmail.com.

I WRITE FOR THE 'MOUTHLESS', IT'S A DUTY I CHERISH.

During last month, until early this month I have received a barrage of commentaries, messages and sometimes rants fueled by fear that truth has found its way out and light is confining the power of darkness to where it belongs - to the long gone dark ages of chest-thumping and over-reliance on brute force to scare and coerce the people and steal from them.

A quick look into those messages, commentaries and rants draws one to one solid conclusion. That truth is the formidable force for the mouthless to bring down the empires founded on falsehoods.

The authors of those messages have singled out my persistent calls for transparency and inclusion of the man and woman on the street on matters public development and policy as my biggest 'crime'. Why and how they found me 'guilty' remains a great mystery that I'm yet to understand. 

But I think the matter goes beyond the simple act of jotting down anonymous messages. I believe the crux of the issue is premised on the poor understanding of: 1) why I write what I write, 2) what/who 'pushed' me into writing, 3) and for whom I write.

Following this, I endevour to open up my soul to help these jingoists see some light and embark on the much needed way to Canaan. You see, leaving them behind isn't an option for us. Inclusion is our mantra and creed. It is the spirit behind all our actions. It is a duty I cherish and find noble to stand with and defend.

I write for the ‘mouthless’. I ventilate the weights in their hearts and souls. I make their voices known to those with keys to unlock the complications confining them to their state of continued sufferance. This is the ink that colours the papers I write: to bring their pleas closer to the powers with a view to breathing new life unto them (the people).

So to equate this to empty talk is to reduce pleas and cries of the masses to voices devoid of anything tangible.

I am a product of the collective power of the people. My life is a collection of their lives. I am their investment. My education is an expression and true evidence of the trust they have bestowed upon me to be their torch and light. It is for these reasons that I stand in their defense. To run away from this noble duty is to negate their contributions.

It is foolhardy to believe that to question the actions of those in authority is to disrespect them. Leaders derive their powers from the masses. They cannot, therefore, be left to foist their thoughts on the people, however contrary to the public good they may be, in the name of 'respecting' them. Blind allegiance is the root cause of all thievery and looting bedeviling our public corridors. 

I write, speak, and stand for the mouthless and the masses. It is a duty I cherish. Join the team to create a livable world. God bless you all!

Twitter:  @mlemukol.  Email:  lemoseh89@gmail.com 

SO IS TRIBAL EXTREMISM BETTER THAN ALSHABAABISM?

The persistently vexing matter of negative tribalism is to most people the big elephant in the Kenya's social, economic and political landscape. Many commentators have recorded a great deal of thoughts and opinions on this subject. Leaders, and citizens alike agree that dealing a lethal blow to this 'monster' is the only way forward to propelling Kenya and its people to new heights  and to the land of goodies, flowing with milk and honey.

But is tribalism, in all its manifestations, inherently wrong? The eternal questions of when, who, how, and what gave rise to tribalism cannot be settled without having a deep reflection on what actually constitutes a tribe. 

To run away from this, I think, is to play right into the hands of negativity and hatred - the twin cancers eating the conscience of my compatriots and causing unspeakable pain to their body politic.

A tribe, just like a crowd is a collection of masses - a people connected by shared interests and/or cultural origins. Although it is 'made up' of conscientious beings, it is not essentially conscientious. It possesses no mind of its own hence its inability to engage in a rational facts-centered discussions. It relies on the invisible collective persona devoid of any responsibility - in most cases unleashing destructive torrents - to vent all its grievances.

Unleashing destructive torrents notwithstanding, this crowd power lies right at the center of Man's survival. It remains the only formidable 'force' to bring home what may remain a mirage to individual elements making up the crowd (read the tribe). (i.e only crowds can have the guts to stand in the way of destructive forces since they (crowds) are inherently 'destructive' in their pursuit of goodness). 

Which provokes a burning question: Should tribalism be discarded and/or criminalized in totality? If yes, how? Is there any replacement to it?

Considering the crowd analogy explained above, I think, it stands no good not to state that tribalism thrives as a form of 'safety net' and counter force to withstand the excesses of system failures (in this case nonfunctional government systems) and rogue ruling elites with eyes trained on looting and self-aggrandizement. 

It behooves, therefore, to say, in a country - like Kenya - where negative tribalism is the norm and the only 'rescue' for the poor and the suffering mass against all machinations of their well-placed compatriots, the State stands no chance to claim to be anchored on functional systems. 

Negative tribalism is no better than Alshababism - that brutal spirit ravaging Somalia’s future. They are one and the same. They tend to offer solutions to 'fed up' citizens whose hopes have been cut short by non-existent or grounded and redundant state actors. They speak (albeit with jaundiced amity) for the people. They have earned the trust of the people thanks to their open-door interactions with their followers.

To bring down the spirit of tribal allegiance and plant, in its place, the love of the nation and its people is no mean talk. It must start from the top. It demands diligence and commitment. It calls for a total reawakening of government systems that value the citizenry.

The tree of inclusiveness is not watered by endless empty preachings on the need and usefulness of living as one. It is by action and true expression of inclusiveness and appreciation of others albeit their differences that give rise to a unified state.

Men never shape their conduct upon the teaching and/or preaching of pure reason. It is as interesting to decipher the motives of the actions of men as to determine the characteristics of a mineral or a plant. It is by actions, and follow up that change becomes part of them. It is by introducing a new thinking into our tribal crowds that the State can protect us.

Throwing tantrums, singing hymns, lamenting and cursing others for staying aside offer no remedy to negative tribalism. To stick to this is to enrich and fortify the spirits of negative tribalism.

Just like Alshabaab adherents, tribal extremists are our greatest enemies. Much as we wait for the government’s intervention, they need our help to ‘reform’.

Now is the time to collect our bits of shattered glasses and create a mirror that would, in every truth and manifestations of our individual contribution, reflect the face and form of our collective perfect self of the Kenya we want and always long to live in. God bless us!

Twitter: @mlemukol. Email: lemoseh89@gmail.com