The Somalia experience teaches many African countries a critical lesson that should serve as a basis for enhancing good governance.
Good governance in a free and democratic society dictates equitable distribution of national resources.
Despite the ethnic and religious homogeinty in Somalia, the clanism came cripping, killing the spirit of nationalism that fostered independence in 1960.
The central goverment egocentrically allocated national resources basing on which clan one originated rather than need.
The under-represented clans were left in the cold as they assembled guns ready for the civil strive that exists to-date.
In Kenya, ethnicity became so profound that people become conscious on the tribe rather than patriotism to the nation.
Each tribe had its own unique demand and expectations from the government.
The first president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta was well aware of the extent of ethnic polarization.
He tactically killed opposition that actively agitated for Majimboism (regionalism or federalism) on the basis of enhancing national unity.
Successifully, he managed to adopt a one party state that gave him autonomity to award himself huge tracks of land, precisely an equivalent of Nyanza province.
Presently, the national unity dream remains. Kenya is tribal than ever. Why did this happen?
One can argue that unifying the 42 or so tribes is not easy, but comparing with our neigbours Tanzania, we are much below bar.
Tanzania boosts an enormous 120 tribes and concrete unity thanks to Nyerere’s marxist thoughts. Each Tanzanian became actively involved in the social, political and economic aspects of the country as they effectively communicated in Kiswahili language than adopting the colonial language.
A regime where allocation of national resources is based on tribe is doomed to fail.
In the man eat man society, and subsequent protection of sacred cows by the autonomous central government with executive power, ethnicity escalates.
The ethnic hatred is rampant, forcing each tribe to come up with a political party as though they translate to dinner on the poor man’s table.
A devolved government that ensures equitable distribution of resources is what Kenya needs.
Each citizen ought to inclusively participate in the social, political and economic development of this beatiful country.