In our continuing updates on how the Kuria Community has scaled up demands for county seats, new interesting angles are emerging. Interviews with various Kuria leaders reveal that the claims about the community issuing demands on the sharing of county seats is not a shared feeling among members of the community. Many Kuria leaders and ordinary people are keen to develop consensus and the spirit of give and take through dialogue which has been going on since October 2010. But there will always emerge those pushing for hard positions.
A Kuria peace practitioner had a rude shock when he attended a meeting convened by fellow Kuria people. Discrimination, it appears, will go very deep in the county and for the Kuria, the clan factor will be a headache, both for the community and the entire county. George Chacha shares his experience below:
I sauntered into the conference hall at the Border Point Hotel trying to keep time.
Finding a handful of participants, I selected my seat and sunk into the comfort of the premises.
I was called outside and asked who invited me, to which I responded that a Kuria lady, Jane Moronge, in Nairobi had asked me to represent her as she could not make it home.
"This is a meeting meant for only the leaders from the BAKIRA CLAN! I am sorry there seems to be some mix-up. Kindly just greet the participants and...sorry just leave",said the usher.
I was tongue-tied!I just couldn't find words to respond; me, a Kuria being discriminated by my fellow Kurias just because I belong to another clan, a Mugumbe and not a Mukira? Oh no!
I went inside, took to the floor, and said; "I am sorry, that I seem to have gate-crushed a meeting not meant for all. I am sorry that I am a black sheep in the midst of white sheep. I wish you well and bye", I said; very hurt and concerned. Concerned that the Kurias have been echoing fears that the Luos will discriminate against them, marginalize them and have no time and space for them. Yet they can do exactly that to those they perceive as being not of their group. What a shame! In that meeting there were people with degrees; some with big appointments. How can someone of such a character stoop too low!
Later it emerged that this was a meeting meant to ensure that this particular clan clinches the top county positions! Talk of devolution, and there is very wrong understanding; that devolution also means devolving clan/ethnic identities to as far as possible.
On whose behalf were they negotiating for the positions?
Now I know how Rose Parker (a black American) felt when she was asked in public bus to give the seat to a white man during those dark moments of the American History.
With my resource of perceived ID, my passion for one united county and rich training acquired with support from the EU through KAS, I walked out, though not having taught/shared anything but having learned so much about 'my people', for free and within such a short time- a record 7 minutes!
What an experience!
CRY OH MY BELOVED KENYA; A HOME FOR SO MANY YET ONLY FOR FEW."
A Kuria peace practitioner had a rude shock when he attended a meeting convened by fellow Kuria people. Discrimination, it appears, will go very deep in the county and for the Kuria, the clan factor will be a headache, both for the community and the entire county. George Chacha shares his experience below:
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"A meeting was called, for purportedly Kuria leaders. It was expected to focus on devolution, chapter 11 of the new constitution. I marshaled all my resources and training; acquired from the numerous workshops that I had attended before, and the experience and understanding that I had cultivated in the dynamic political sphere both at local and national levels.I sauntered into the conference hall at the Border Point Hotel trying to keep time.
Finding a handful of participants, I selected my seat and sunk into the comfort of the premises.
I was called outside and asked who invited me, to which I responded that a Kuria lady, Jane Moronge, in Nairobi had asked me to represent her as she could not make it home.
"This is a meeting meant for only the leaders from the BAKIRA CLAN! I am sorry there seems to be some mix-up. Kindly just greet the participants and...sorry just leave",said the usher.
I was tongue-tied!I just couldn't find words to respond; me, a Kuria being discriminated by my fellow Kurias just because I belong to another clan, a Mugumbe and not a Mukira? Oh no!
I went inside, took to the floor, and said; "I am sorry, that I seem to have gate-crushed a meeting not meant for all. I am sorry that I am a black sheep in the midst of white sheep. I wish you well and bye", I said; very hurt and concerned. Concerned that the Kurias have been echoing fears that the Luos will discriminate against them, marginalize them and have no time and space for them. Yet they can do exactly that to those they perceive as being not of their group. What a shame! In that meeting there were people with degrees; some with big appointments. How can someone of such a character stoop too low!
Later it emerged that this was a meeting meant to ensure that this particular clan clinches the top county positions! Talk of devolution, and there is very wrong understanding; that devolution also means devolving clan/ethnic identities to as far as possible.
On whose behalf were they negotiating for the positions?
Now I know how Rose Parker (a black American) felt when she was asked in public bus to give the seat to a white man during those dark moments of the American History.
With my resource of perceived ID, my passion for one united county and rich training acquired with support from the EU through KAS, I walked out, though not having taught/shared anything but having learned so much about 'my people', for free and within such a short time- a record 7 minutes!
What an experience!
CRY OH MY BELOVED KENYA; A HOME FOR SO MANY YET ONLY FOR FEW."
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