Our People Are Kenyans — How Ethnic Division Protects Bad Governance

In this third civic reflection, I address the use of ethnic and regional division as a political tool. Kenyans are often pushed into language such as Coast versus Central, Kikuyu versus Kalenjin, Luo versus another community, or “our people” versus “their people.” But constitutionally, our people are Kenyans. Article 39 protects every citizen’s right to live anywhere in Kenya. Article 201 requires openness, accountability, fairness, public participation, and responsible use of public money. Article 3 requires every person to respect, uphold, and defend the Constitution. Development is not a personal gift from a president to an ethnic community. Development is a constitutional process involving counties, Parliament, public finance, oversight, and citizen participation. Ethnicity is not the issue. Culture is not the issue. The issue is the manipulation of identity by political actors who benefit when citizens remain divided. Silence and fear are not patriotism. Ethnic hatred is not patriotism. Constitutional courage is patriotism. We are all implicated. Prof. Ngure wa Mwachofi HASHTAGS: #KenyaConstitution #CivicEducation #Article39 #Article201 #Article3 #Devolution #KenyaUnity #EthnicDivision #ConstitutionalCourage #WeAreAllImplicated #NgureWaMwachofi