It was a big let down to read what Omar Hassan, who would pass as a learned Kenyan, to have written in one of the major dailies in Kenya. The most disturbing thing is the vitriol with which he has allowed himself to address his antipathy to a particular tribe in Kenya. This is most worrying as we head to a Genera Election in an year. The question is, what is the problem with his comments, anyway?
Omar Hassan comments were made out of sheer arrogance and hatred. It is an open secret that he has tried again and again to admonish a particular tribe, and his comments on the tribe, just like a replay of comments made in 2007 by a people of his ilk, were meant to alienate and isolate the tribe against the other tribes in the country. Where known political leaders masterminded the infamous call of 41-tribes-against-1-tribe, the young lawyer seems to have taken the mantle from them. This is worrying, not only to the members of the tribe, but also to the peace-loving Kenyans.
It is alright for Omar to criticize President Kibaki, but it is wrong to put the president in a tribal cocoon. To criticize the president on the basis of his tribe is tantamount to tribalism! The president does not belong to a particular tribe, but to all tribes. He is above tribal leanings.
He claims that the security organs are all under the leadership of people from one region. This is further from the truth. A look at the Ministry of Defence ascertains the lies inbended in Omar’s article. The line up in the Department of Defence, a top security organ, is as follows:
Hon. Mohamed Yusuf Haji - Minister of State for Defence
Hon. Maj Gen (Rtd) J K Nkaissery - Assistant Minister of State for Defence
Hon David Musila, - Assistant Minister of State for Defence
Ms Nancy Kirui - Permanent Secretary (PS) Ministry of State for Defence
Gen Julius W Karangi - Chief of Defence Forces
Lt Gen Samson J Mwathethe - Vice Chief of Defence Forces
Lt Gen Njuki Mwaniki - Commandant National Defence College (NDC)
Maj Gen Joff Otieno - Kenya Air Force Commander
Maj Gen Ngewa Mukala - Kenya Navy Commander
Maj Gen Jackson N Waweru - Commandant Defence Staff College (DSC)
Maj Gen Maurice Oyugi - Deputy Army Commander
Maj Gen Harold M Tangai - Senior Directing Staff NDC
Brig S W Nadwa - Commandant Kenya Military Academy(KMA) formerly AFTC
In the Ministry of Internal Security, another top security organ, the line up draws people from different communities of Kenya.
Hon. Prof. George Saitoti, MP – Minister, Internal Security
Hon. Simon Lesirma, MP – Assistant Minister, Internal Security
Hon. Joshua Orwa Ojode , MP - Assistant Minister, Internal Security
Mr. Francis Kimemia – Permanent Secretary, Internal Security
If Omar argues that one region rules the reins in the Ministry of Energy, that is balderdash! In their bid to give the Kikuyu a bad name, tribalists would much like to place the Ameru, the Aembu, the Ambeere and the Atharaka as members of the larger Kikuyu family. All this is because the communities share much in common. Yet, why do we never here that when it comes to the Luo and the Luhya?
If Omar Hassan was genuine, he should have criticized all state organs where tribalism is rife, not a few organs where his perceived enemies are found. The truth is, tribalism is still a reason to worry when it comes to civil service and other state operations. however, that is not a reason to corner one community as the cause of that. Maybe Omar should go ahead and tell us about the Luo, the Maasai, the Somali,and any other community out there.
Whatever Omar wrote on that Sunday, the 26th November, 2011, was a clear show of his incompetency and lack of moral decorum. He is simply trying to insinuate that belonging to a particular tribe is a crime, and that one should be victimized , in employment or otherwise just because he or she comes from a particular tribe. Nothing could be further from the truth!
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