Why and How We Need to Preserve Our Kenyan-ness That Could be Threatened by Devolution

By Mwangi Wanjumbi- Newtimes BS Chief Trainer, Strategist & Researcher

Up-to now, I am still quite excited about an occurrence of last week, that depicts the seriousness and practicality of our solutions. In spite of the fluid situation that the country is experiencing, as we await the fate of the Presidential elections of 4th March 2013, there are those who are undeterred. A  mufti-ethnic management team that we first interacted with in 2010,  through a 3 day training program  had called once more. This time, it was for a re-energizing/motivation session.

Interestingly, the team has taken all the lessons of 2010 rather seriously.  They had amongst many other things learnt the importance and values expressed in the National Anthem, hence the need for singing the same, whenever they congregate as a team. So, in lieu of closing the  session of last week with a normal prayer, the selected team player chose to lead us all in singing the national anthem, “like you had taught us last time,” he insinuated, while at the same time pointing at me. Probably, it may be of interest to re-visit the genesis of this National Anthem matter. Why so?

Sometimes in February 2008, I was to deliver a training program for multi-ethnic management team of a corporate body.  That was during the explosive post election period that is better off forgotten in a hurry. The situation was awkward since ethnic animosity had spread to the workplace too, therefore affecting organizational productivity. Further, there was evident cold war that was bedeviling most situations of our lives. In my case, I was very fearful of inability to maintain cohesion and unity of direction and purpose during the envisaged program and thereafter.  Naturally, I had to come up with a solution, else the efforts could have been a total waste.

During that time, our nation never had anything formal with respect to national values that are now listed in chapter 2 of our 2010 constitution. As I grappled with the challenges, I remembered our National Anthem whose prayerful words/phrases, I had last heard many years before. By then, we were mostly used only to the tune either on Radio, TV, National functions  and especially during frequent award of medals to our renowned globetrotting athletes. Careful analysis of the anthem clearly brought out not only the prayerful words/phrases, but also serious values worth guiding our personal conduct as well as behavior towards one another and our nation.

Ever since, leading in the singing of this anthem alongside other interventions, is one of my best moments during any training session. Asked whether, Kenyans could have behaved the way they deed in 2008, had they been singing and internalized the national anthem, the answer from the delegates has always been in unison, a resounding NO. What of during the prevailing tension?

Meanwhile, many things have happened ever since I started appreciating the importance of the national anthem. A new constitution was conceived and eventually promulgated. We have recently held national elections, which have ushered our country into a new dispensation. We are no longer a unitary state, but a devolved nation with 47 centers of authority.

Though, we still retain a national government with numerous responsibilities over the counties, we, in my view risk losing our national identity to the new counties and ethnic groupings. Even before the new dispensation, there were nationals who had no business to conduct in Nairobi and had therefore never stepped into the city. Imagine how they are now likely to view the national capital.

Devolution will no doubt be synonymous with taking services closer to the people. Indeed, this is desirable and should be encouraged for the purposes of national development. Smaller national units can be more innovative and therefore responsive to change.

However, if we are not careful, county governance could lead to total alienation from the national government. Inevitably, we are a nation divided along ethnic orientations as earlier noted. It is not that there is anything wrong with ethnicity. We all have to be born from one ethnic group or the other. We share the same physical features. We encounter the same biological processes. We experience the same life challenges. We are only differentiated by the languages we each speak and the culture (read behavior or norms) attributable to the varying environments in which we are born.

Nonetheless, there are those who have mainly exploited our differences to create huge barriers between us. Perhaps, we need to start anew by forgiving our political order, even before thinking of exploiting our new developments. Out of sheer ignorance or selfish interests, they have been the cause of the negative ethnicity that is so rive in our country. Sadly, we risk becoming ethnicized even further given the recent devolvement, if we continue being influenced by this old and primitive thinking. That is why we more than ever before, need to make conscious efforts of guarding our identity as Kenyans first and then residents or otherwise of our various counties. How?

Notably, research indicates that national anthems are the threads that unite nationals of the same country with one another. The same extols the shared values and aspirations. It becomes a clarion call. In many nations especially in the developed world, singing of the national anthem is well entrenched. In our case, there is need to cement the singing of our national anthem, in the workplace, community barazas and any gatherings. More still, we need to internalize the words/phrases both in English and Kiswahili, as may be appropriate.

Apparently, once we identify ourselves more as Kenyans, before our ethnic groupings and counties where we may each be domiciled, we shall start appreciating and exploiting the advantages of diversity. Only then shall we get focused towards achieving the greatness deserving of our persons, our leadership, our organizations, our counties and our nation too. More over, we shall easily fit even more in the dynamic community of nations, as I have continually been demonstrating and guiding others whilst in the call of duty.

Let us all appreciate Our National Anthem

1. O God of all creation
Bless this our land and nation
Justice be our shield and defender
May we dwell in unityPeace and liberty
Plenty be found within our borders.

2. Let one and all arise
With hearts both strong and true
Service be our earnest endeavour
And our homeland of Kenya
Heritage of splendour
Firm may we stand to defend.

3. Let all with one accord
In common bond united
Build this our nation together
And the glory of Kenya
The fruit of our labour
Fill every heart with thanksgiving.

Kiswahil Version
1. Ee Mungu nguvu yetu
Ilete baraka kwetu
Haki iwe ngao na mlinzi
Natukae na undugu
Amani na uhuru
Raha tupate na ustawi.

2. Amkeni ndugu zetu
Tufanye sote bidii
Nasi tujitoe kwa nguvu
Nchi yetu ya Kenya
Tunayoipenda
Tuwe tayari kuilinda

3. Natujenge taifa letu
Ee, ndio wajibu wetu
Kenya istahili heshima
Tuungane mikono
Pamoja kazini
Kila siku tuwe na shukrani

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