By Wilfred Ayaga Updated Tuesday, April 28th 2015 at 00:00 GMT +3
Kenyan Ambassador to the US, Mr. Robinson Githae
A
question by one of the participants during the diaspora gathering in
Los Angeles, California, revealed deep-seated tribal fissures among
Kenyans in the US, and underlined sentiments that Kenyans may have
exported their bad habits abroad. The fissures have reportedly
permeated every aspect of social life in the US, which has one of the
highest concentration of Kenyans in the diaspora. Johnson Kinyua, who
introduced himself during the meeting as "a Kasisi and an
adjunct lecturer" opened a can of worms when he challenged
organisers of the meeting to explain why those chosen to represent
the diaspora at the meeting comprised people from one community.
"That desk up there is well represented," said Kinyua
referring to the high table. "It is very diverse, but I noted
that the people who spoke today on behalf of the diaspora, there was
no woman. All of them were also from one tribe. I think we need to
recognise the diversity that is in the United States," he said.
Seated at the high table at the time was Kenya ambassador to the US,
Robinson Githae, Safaricom CEO, Bob Collymore and ICT Cabinet
Secretary, Fred Matiang'i. Also in attendance at the event was
renowned academic Prof Ngugi wa Thiong'o. President Uhuru Kenyatta,
who had been expected to attend the meeting, did not make it to the
US after his plane returned home under unclear circumstances.
Sentiments in the wake of the shame at the diaspora gathering
revealed the divisions between Kenyans in the US. "I found it a
bit embarrassing watching the Government get called out by a Kenyan
in Diaspora, for what many saw as shameful tribalism. Diaspora must
embrace diversity and be a guide to the motherland on what makes up
the fabric of Kenya; that indeed, this garment has all the stitches
that represent the tribes that make up our great country," said
Mukurima Muriuki, a Kenyan living in the United States on his twitter
handle. Another Kenyan said: "Kenyans are not one in the US"
and that tribal feelings in the country were similar, if not worse
than those experienced at home. "Tribalism is extremely serious
in the diaspora. Kenyan churches and fellowships here identify with
respective tribes. Parties and get-togethers the same...Kenyans per
se only get together for convenience.
"And
with Githae, (the ambassador) around we particularly have an
indecisive ambassador. He has no discernment. If we can get cohesion
and unity in the US then definitely we cannot help fight tribalism
back home," said the Kenyan who lives in San Antonio, Texas.
Citizen Diaspora wrote: "The tribalism in the diaspora has
always been there but it was strengthened during the 2007 Kenya
election and Obama's 2008 elections. US has the worst cases of
imported tribalism." Anna Irungu, who lives in Seattle, alluded
to the possibility that the diaspora meeting in Los Angeles may have
been given wide berth by other communities. "Our local priest
who pastors our church that's predominantly one tribe and himself
from a different minority commented that there cannot be ill feelings
where all are invited but only a certain community responds to that
call..." she wrote. Githae shifted blame to organisers of the
meeting for failure to take into account tribal and gender balance.
"It is the associations themselves that chose the speakers, and
since they sent the names to us, it is when the names came when we
realised that they had chosen only men. On the issue of one tribe, it
is good to speak up. I think that question can be directed to the
association and ask them why when they were told to choose their
representatives, they did so...It is not me. I am blameless," he
said
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