I am not my TRIBE.I am KENYAN.

Oh, so you are Kilonzo...Mkamba...?

An innocent question right? WRONG.

What does my tribe have to do with my

Potentials? Failures? Achievements?

These stereotypes grate me to the marrow.

You hear of a heist and the immediate thought is...Kikuyu's are involved.

Or a bar brawl and conclude these Luo's and fights.

Pirates ring Somali.

Plus many other tribal comparisons...many at times it’s an individual who has messed up but the whole clan is smeared with the iniquity.

I don’t know about you but this has got to STOP.

How?

It starts with Me, You and US.

Let us the youths create awareness to our peers, parents and community that:

NO TRIBE IS SUPERIOR.

We are Kenyans and this is what is very important.

Our diversity is supposed to unite us.

We are ONE out of MANY.

Unless we put aside our tribal differences, we will always experience the hate speeches lined with sarcasm, suspicion and disunity.

A time bomb

Reflect on Rwanda’s genocide.

TUACHE UKABILA.

In any case when it rains does it recognize anyone by its tribe or affiliation?

It drenches all equally.

Question: Wewe ni mkabila gani??

Answer: MIMI NI MKENYA

The 8 stages of Genocide

Stage 1-Classification :
Characteristics
People are divided into "us and them".

Stage 2-Symbolization :
Characteristics
"When combined with hatred, symbols may be forced upon unwilling members of pariah groups..."

Stage 3-Dehumanization :
Characteristics
"One group denies the humanity of the other group. Members of it are equated with animals, vermin, insects or diseases."

Stage 4-Organization :
Characteristics
"Genocide is always organized... Special army units or militias are often trained and armed..."

Stage 5-Polarization:
Characteristics
"Hate groups broadcast polarizing propaganda..."


Stage 6-Preparation :
Characteristics
"Victims are identified and separated out because of their ethnic or religious identity..."

Stage 7-Extermination :
Characteristics
"It is "extermination" to the killers because they do not believe their victims to be fully human."

Stage 8-Denial :
Characteristics
"The perpetrators... deny that they committed any crimes..."

WHAT PREVENTIVE MEASURES SHOULD BE FOLLOWED AND IMPLEMENTED THEN ??

-"The main preventive measure at this early stage is to develop universalistic institutions that transcend... divisions."

-"To combat symbolization, hate symbols can be legally forbidden as can hate speech".

-"Local and international leaders should condemn the use of hate speech and make it culturally unacceptable. Leaders who incite genocide should be banned from international travel and have their foreign finances frozen."

-"The U.N. should impose arms embargoes on governments and citizens of countries involved in genocidal massacres, and create commissions to investigate violations"

-"Prevention may mean security protection for moderate leaders or assistance to human rights groups...Coups d’état by extremists should be opposed by international sanctions."

-only rapid and overwhelming armed intervention can stop genocide. Real safe areas or refugee escape corridors should be established with heavily armed international protection."

-"The response to denial is punishment by an international tribunal or national courts"

-"At the end of the day, it all summarizes to an individuals choices...will you pick up an arm to maim your neighbor? will you protect life?will you sit on the fence-undecided?WHAT WILL YOU DO?