Ethnicity – Kenya’s protest threatened by ethnic differences
Nicholas Omito, CEO of the Centre for Human Rights and Mediation has narrated to foreign news correspondents how Kalenjin and Kikuyus are facing off, with President Ruto’s Kalenjin saying their son shouldn’t be forced to resign.
The protest that targeted Finance Bill has changed purpose, the protesters want President Ruto to leave office by force. His resignation is the prize they so much desire.
But just like the political career of the president is threatened, the future of the protest is under threat.
The protest is a replica of what happened in Nigeria during end SARS. The government found it difficult to penetrate the protest because there was no leadership.
In Kenya, the protest has no structure. Kenyans from all works of life came out to ask for termination of the Finance Bill, and now asking for termination of the tenure of President Ruto.
The protesters are not organised, which could be their undoing, as much it’s its lifeline.
The government cannot corrupt or influence the leadership or structure of the protest, and the protesters cannot make strategic decisions to drive home their demand.
Recently, the protesters have been left confused as to where or how to protest. They merely rely on social media posts for a popular opinion.
The government has also joined the social media campaign, where different ideas are thrown open and public deliberations are made to determine a decision.
There was a call to stage protest in the home of the president, but different public opinions influenced the decision. The protesters don’t know who is behind any counter or pro- idea.
A protest in the home of the president would have been a key means of passing a message, but it was opposed by known and unknown social media accounts.
The protest is aimed at ousting the president, but indecision is costing the group of young protesters in the country.
In the process of trying to establish a popular opinion or make a decision, protesters couldn’t mobilise last two days as expected. Across the cities, small protests were recorded after decision to storm the home of President Ruto stalled.
In Eldoret, despite thousands came out to protest, there were dissents, who are saying the president has done his part by striking down the Finance Bill.
“Eldoret is the place nobody expected protest, but other ethnic groups in their thousands marched against Ruto in his home town” an observer said.
“We are seeing that Eldoret, the home town of President Ruto and also his political stronghold is considering other options. His people want to help him, but the number of oppositions is massive” our reporter monitoring the protest commented.
Since Ruto withdrew the Finance Bill, his ethnic group, Kalenjin are saying resignation was not part of the agreement. Sentiments are beginning to come out from minorities.
There is also an attempt to bring in ethnic sentiment into the protest to influence the protesters and cause civil opposition to it.
Kikuyus are opposed to the Kalenjin idea that resignation was not part of the plan.
Protesters are beginning to scream that politicians have started process to undermine the protest and destroy the unity of the youths.
Although, there is another voice that is adamant. Nyabola responded defiantly. She opined that ethnic differences cannot destroy the movement
Speaking to foreign media and reported by Aljazera, she made it clear the cause of the protest is bigger than ethnic differences.
“You’re never going to get rid of it completely,” she said. “But for now, the class and wealth disparity between politicians and ordinary people has been the focus”
The effect of ethnic differences and political ploy to undermine their movement could be seen in days and weeks to come.
