Generation Y- You Stand Accused

I find myself lost for words when I have to articulate or narrate the anger and sheer exasperation I feel when I try and speak to Generation Y about the power keg that is hate and tribalism that we seem so happy to stir up. I don’t have a problem with the old school politicians who stir up tribal hate and then sit back in their luxurious homes, cars and plush lifestyles, and watch the fools that are us burn our possessions and our future in their name - in the name of tribalism.

More power to them – after all, you are daft, no-one should trust you with the future of this nation let alone your own. Yeah I said it. Did you really think I was going to get up and start pointing fingers at politicians. I don’t know a single one who actually torched a house, killed a person or raped a woman. I have seen the pictures from 2007 and 2008 – those are your faces, generation Y – you stand accused of plotting once again to burn this nation.

So poor Kibunja can’t seem to catch a break – he’s clear that you cannot stir tribal hatred, however it isn’t the politicians working against him – it’s you and I looking for every small opportunity to spew tribal hatred on twitter on Facebook and even on blogs. I dare you right now to post something basic and simple like your favourite meal– see how many comments down the line turn into rubbish. Food is food, by and large most us have a preference and basic chapattis and chicken is as good as it gets.

But what are we more than happy to do? We must, absolutely must, create a connection with the meal and tribe, then the origins of the meal, the writer and tribe, or when really inspired, we will find a way to create a connection between the meal, the writer, tribe and a political party. Then to make sure it all explodes into absolute manure speech, we will add abuse to the conversation and once the words like “Chania river, jolou, rift valley” start flowing, it’s hard to remember what the basic post was about. That’s you Generation Y – you stand accused of plotting to burn this nation. Now pay attention.

Well I was born in the most difficult time, when my country was at war. I saw my village burned down. The world that meant a lot to me, I saw it vanish in my face. I saw my aunt in rape when I was only five. My mother was claimed by the war. My brothers and sisters were scattered.

And not only that, when I was eight I became a child soldier. I didn't know what was the war for. But one thing I knew was an image that I saw that stuck in my head. When I went to the training camp I say, "I want to kill as many Muslims, and as many Arabs, as possible."

I came to discover the truth. What was actually killing us wasn't the Muslims, wasn't the Arabs. It was somebody sitting somewhere manipulating the system, and using religion to get what they want to get out of us, which is the oil, the diamond, the gold and the land.

These are the words of Emmauel Jal at TEDtalks in August 2009. Surely, no matter how many ways we try to excuse the reasons young people are resulting to tribal hate speech, what Jal says remains true. No-one in your college your neighbourhood or even a neighbouring university stands to gain from the plunder of this nation. You know that because in spite of everything that is said about you, you are smart enough to realise this. You are being maniplulated by those who truly want to have access to what is yours by right.

The oil below the surface in Kenya belongs to you, you will harvest it, you will trade it you will build this nation on it. Has it not occurred to you yet that those manipulating you are jealous and sick to the gut that you will have all this as they sit and watch you shine. Yes, they are jealous. All those years they were drilling and checking and searching and now when they are spent and their time is truly up, somehow we strike oil. You think for two minutes any one of them is going to let you take your rightful place in shaping this nation so you can enjoy what God has abundantly placed in your path?

Don’t you know that their time is up, but if they can kill your dreams and even kill you (none of them is going to be anywhere near a gun or panga) then that means they get to hang around a little longer and throw a five year long party in your house at your expense? Are you really that stupid that you can’t see this is not them versus them, it them versus us? Them versus you? When the political dust settles, they will shake hands, cut deals, plunder the nation for another five years and you will continue to whine from the sidelines about how unfair life is. No it isn’t.

You deliberately made a decision to be a by-stander so you can blog and tweet about what’s happening in Kenya, all the while your birthright is been squandered by a person who has over-stayed their welcome. You stand accused of being lame. You raped, you burnt, you destroyed, you hurt this nation and don’t tell me that old tale about being hopeless – that was then. What is going to be your excuse come 2013.

You have none – you know better which means you must do better. Spare me the political double talk, if we burn you stand accused – because no politician can spread fear and hate without your help and support. Left to him or herself, all our politicians bar none, has the muscle or sheer will to act or speak inappropriately – they get their courage from you. They can’t burn, divide or rob this country without your backing or blessing. Stop giving it to them and then whining when they lock you out of the champagne party.

For crying out loud wake up!!! Declare war against anyone who will confine you to a future of nothingness because you were too yellow-bellied to claim what was yours. Kenya is coming into her Jubilee and this is your time. Stop being shallow and start preparing for the wonders God has laid out for you. Stop being lame and start pushing out of your way, anyone who will stand between you and your abundant future. Be real, be truthful, and before you start talking about our politicians and our “tribal leaders” look again at the pictures from 2007/8 – that’s you.