THE KENYA VIOLENCE: A CASE FOR NON-VIOLENCE STRATEGY
Over one thousand people (1,000) have died due to Kenya violence, and primarily from extreme manifestation of economic and political greed. A little could have been known about Kenya like; long experience of economic and political corruption, sharp inequalities in resource distribution as well as in terms of income per capita, ungentle character, and above all; unfriendliness to foreigners.
Just recently, (in the Daily Monitor: 9th February, 2008), Ugandans were reportedly sodomised by rioting Kenyans. But, even those, who have lived in Kenya for the last twenty or more years, could reveal about roughness of most Kenyans. But, thanks to its geographical location, Kenya’s economy continued to survive shocks of greed.
There seems to have been a transition from economic greed and marginalization to a political element by specific tribal governments against other tribes -that are not in power. Kenyan political representatives, over time, have by far given no meaning to democracy. Instead, they have used democracy purely as a means for massive acquisition of wealth rather than genuine representation of electorate interests and wishes. Politics there has meant a search for treasure –with the equation of; politics equals (=) wealth. Why would anybody get surprised watching aging Kibaki glue himself hard onto power?
Most Kenyans could have thought Kibaki clique had “eaten” enough” and that it was a chance for someone else or another lot. It is such a situation that could have eventually pushed Kenyans into violence. Rigging of elections only opened the floodgates. Any proposals for peace would, therefore, not only mean to have a re-run of elections, as the most important solution, but be coupled with serious pledges for economic, moral and social structural reforms.
The media lowly took president of Rwanda’s Idea of a military enforcement of peace yet sounded vital, as well. Military coup against Kibaki first, would perhaps, have been necessary for overall recovery of Kenya from its sorry state –after which the same military could announce and organize elections. Maybe the Military did not think about it or it was just too late.
And perhaps, like it was the case with ECK chairman, Kibaki could have promised heaven and earth to the military bosses to heed. However, Kibaki and his team continue to show signs of no care and insensitivity about on-going events in Kenya. All they are up to is to work out anything that could, by all means, keep them in power. Perhaps, they lack christianness in them. If they did, they would have resigned and asked for national forgiveness.
In the same paper Daily Monitor, a “government” spokesman, Dr. Matua was reported by the media saying there would be no power sharing while other reports showed that they are not willing to go for a re-run of elections. A similar statement from Mr. Kofi Annan was heard –forgetting that during his UN days he was more of an observer and talker than an action-taker.
Wasn’t he a UN secretary during the whole scenes (from the beginning to the end) of the Rwanda genocide? His no re-run (of elections) firm-stand, would not be a surprise. And those cushioned by Annan’s statement as Kibaki and his friends, their selfish interests allow them no chance to feel the violence impact -so as to be motivated to seek any means that would lead to a peaceful settlement.
The political power-generated warmth, perhaps, puts them at a more comfort zone than affected refugees and the hurt. It is, in short, a serious manifestation of insensitivity towards fellow countrymen. Why would this not justify further violence and biting of teeth needing to eat up the likes of Matua?
It would, then, be the only problem with earlier proposed military action by president Kagame, remembering that it has, too, contributed deaths by means of shooting live bullets at unarmed protestors. These are soldiers only willing to keep anybody in power upon any first impression from a firstly organized swearing ceremony.
A mere rush to a national media house to make a formal announcement about new “bull in the kraal”, the army would only salute. And they would not think or reason otherwise apart from saluting to the traditional “order” rule, decrees and regime statements and wishes. No wonder, in the history of coups, the first political or rebel representative to reach government media house and announce the emergence of a new government, as Walter Ochola once did, would soon be successful in that endeavor.
Even if Kibaki fell out anyhow, they are the kind of army that could consider anyone masquerading as president to be so. The Kenyan divide cannot, therefore, guarantee a stable army for a military takeover in the interest of national peace and stability. Soon the military could be affected reciprocally by what would be happening in the political and civil sectors.
And with Kibaki, the said commander in chief, the army could find itself in dubious business with his government, as well. Assassination of renowned politicians would, then, not be met by surprise. Otherwise, it would be rather unprofessional act shooting at unarmed civilians. It is cowardly from whoever ordered such shootings. What would result if the offended, too, found their way to guns and bullets? But would violence for violence lead to peace and stability again?
If a country were marred by violence, same amount of violence in return would not be appealing to any peace lover. This could explain why American war policy has changed over years to be integrated with diplomacy, one at a time or both at ago. It would be, perhaps, increasing deaths of innocent people to call for peace-by-force mechanism. But, in the end, both approaches would be needed. After all, an end to reckless killings would be the main objective.
However, history has showed us that non-violence has been the most successful means of conflict resolution and grievance settlement; both from within an individual, and from injustices inflicted onto individuals and/or society. At individual level, a person could choose creative means of satisfying himself or herself everyday, which would mean hobbies, transformable into generally beneficial activities -to bring overall happiness to the individual. It would also call for individual assertion of his or her rights through action to realize justice rather than injustice.
This means justice cannot at certain degrees be begged or even negotiated. Justice, in general, could be seen as natural or godly that must always find its place regardless. Such human rights-expressed actions may be from individual to group and later on, a social action, which would act as convoys to achievement of social justice and of marginalized groups.
There are, however, four important things in its achievement (justice); 1) being brave for self-help and self-justice; 2) carrying out real actions for self-help, for self-liberation, and for the right conscience, 3) resilient and/or perseverance until total demise of oppression and injustice and; 4) spreading such actions to all sectors that contribute to injustice.
It would be a situation, where actions speak clearer and make more sense than words. It would be a matter of one person rising to the occasion and bringing in a few friends, who in turn, would together move for social activism whilst reserving optimism towards realization of justice, respect for values, emancipation of the marginalized, equality in resource distribution and social progress. This, perhaps, could be an answer to how true a Kenyan problem needs a Kenyan person’s answer.
Ghandi and Martin Luther non-violence actions for social justice offer good sources of inspirations. Their strategy was never a betrayal, but a real success later after and benefits are there for all mankind to see. Like Jesus Christ, they were killed for the good of the masses they struggled for while the fruits of their deaths continue to be enjoyed and their strategy, still, is the most popular and successful.
Those who have read or watched Ghandi and Martin literature or videos may have learned from the following; refusal to acknowledge unjust gestures and practices as well as systems, non-cooperation, peaceful demonstrations, sit-downs, denunciation and defiance, making oneself first and at the front to be at par with one’s moral conscience, which is cased by preaching, speeches, and writings and videos about oppressed concerns. The most interesting in such aspects is that they would be most biting to the oppressor yet no guns or bullets get used against him or her (oppressor). It would not be very long when fulfillments first in the individual and then, to those around him, soon emerge.
This, therefore, would be a lesson for the oppressed and marginalized in Kenya and elsewhere, where injustice is the rule, principle, convention and order for the oppressor’s convenience. Victims of such must rise to be counted, must rise and struggle for the freedoms of generations to come and must break unjust rules, conventions and orders for self-liberation such that in turn, friends and families are liberated, and for social, political and economic liberation in a long run. And to achieve these, non-violence approach would be most suitable alternative, as it would help solve the equation of aggressive confrontation leading to deaths as unworthy now, where instead, an intelligent alternative and more sensible actions are used to unconsciously demoralize and demobilize even the armed.
Jacob Waiswa, waiswajacobo@yahoo.co.uk
The writer is a Situation Health Analyst and Orientator in the Humanist Movement with interest in Human Behavior.
Over one thousand people (1,000) have died due to Kenya violence, and primarily from extreme manifestation of economic and political greed. A little could have been known about Kenya like; long experience of economic and political corruption, sharp inequalities in resource distribution as well as in terms of income per capita, ungentle character, and above all; unfriendliness to foreigners.
Just recently, (in the Daily Monitor: 9th February, 2008), Ugandans were reportedly sodomised by rioting Kenyans. But, even those, who have lived in Kenya for the last twenty or more years, could reveal about roughness of most Kenyans. But, thanks to its geographical location, Kenya’s economy continued to survive shocks of greed.
There seems to have been a transition from economic greed and marginalization to a political element by specific tribal governments against other tribes -that are not in power. Kenyan political representatives, over time, have by far given no meaning to democracy. Instead, they have used democracy purely as a means for massive acquisition of wealth rather than genuine representation of electorate interests and wishes. Politics there has meant a search for treasure –with the equation of; politics equals (=) wealth. Why would anybody get surprised watching aging Kibaki glue himself hard onto power?
Most Kenyans could have thought Kibaki clique had “eaten” enough” and that it was a chance for someone else or another lot. It is such a situation that could have eventually pushed Kenyans into violence. Rigging of elections only opened the floodgates. Any proposals for peace would, therefore, not only mean to have a re-run of elections, as the most important solution, but be coupled with serious pledges for economic, moral and social structural reforms.
The media lowly took president of Rwanda’s Idea of a military enforcement of peace yet sounded vital, as well. Military coup against Kibaki first, would perhaps, have been necessary for overall recovery of Kenya from its sorry state –after which the same military could announce and organize elections. Maybe the Military did not think about it or it was just too late.
And perhaps, like it was the case with ECK chairman, Kibaki could have promised heaven and earth to the military bosses to heed. However, Kibaki and his team continue to show signs of no care and insensitivity about on-going events in Kenya. All they are up to is to work out anything that could, by all means, keep them in power. Perhaps, they lack christianness in them. If they did, they would have resigned and asked for national forgiveness.
In the same paper Daily Monitor, a “government” spokesman, Dr. Matua was reported by the media saying there would be no power sharing while other reports showed that they are not willing to go for a re-run of elections. A similar statement from Mr. Kofi Annan was heard –forgetting that during his UN days he was more of an observer and talker than an action-taker.
Wasn’t he a UN secretary during the whole scenes (from the beginning to the end) of the Rwanda genocide? His no re-run (of elections) firm-stand, would not be a surprise. And those cushioned by Annan’s statement as Kibaki and his friends, their selfish interests allow them no chance to feel the violence impact -so as to be motivated to seek any means that would lead to a peaceful settlement.
The political power-generated warmth, perhaps, puts them at a more comfort zone than affected refugees and the hurt. It is, in short, a serious manifestation of insensitivity towards fellow countrymen. Why would this not justify further violence and biting of teeth needing to eat up the likes of Matua?
It would, then, be the only problem with earlier proposed military action by president Kagame, remembering that it has, too, contributed deaths by means of shooting live bullets at unarmed protestors. These are soldiers only willing to keep anybody in power upon any first impression from a firstly organized swearing ceremony.
A mere rush to a national media house to make a formal announcement about new “bull in the kraal”, the army would only salute. And they would not think or reason otherwise apart from saluting to the traditional “order” rule, decrees and regime statements and wishes. No wonder, in the history of coups, the first political or rebel representative to reach government media house and announce the emergence of a new government, as Walter Ochola once did, would soon be successful in that endeavor.
Even if Kibaki fell out anyhow, they are the kind of army that could consider anyone masquerading as president to be so. The Kenyan divide cannot, therefore, guarantee a stable army for a military takeover in the interest of national peace and stability. Soon the military could be affected reciprocally by what would be happening in the political and civil sectors.
And with Kibaki, the said commander in chief, the army could find itself in dubious business with his government, as well. Assassination of renowned politicians would, then, not be met by surprise. Otherwise, it would be rather unprofessional act shooting at unarmed civilians. It is cowardly from whoever ordered such shootings. What would result if the offended, too, found their way to guns and bullets? But would violence for violence lead to peace and stability again?
If a country were marred by violence, same amount of violence in return would not be appealing to any peace lover. This could explain why American war policy has changed over years to be integrated with diplomacy, one at a time or both at ago. It would be, perhaps, increasing deaths of innocent people to call for peace-by-force mechanism. But, in the end, both approaches would be needed. After all, an end to reckless killings would be the main objective.
However, history has showed us that non-violence has been the most successful means of conflict resolution and grievance settlement; both from within an individual, and from injustices inflicted onto individuals and/or society. At individual level, a person could choose creative means of satisfying himself or herself everyday, which would mean hobbies, transformable into generally beneficial activities -to bring overall happiness to the individual. It would also call for individual assertion of his or her rights through action to realize justice rather than injustice.
This means justice cannot at certain degrees be begged or even negotiated. Justice, in general, could be seen as natural or godly that must always find its place regardless. Such human rights-expressed actions may be from individual to group and later on, a social action, which would act as convoys to achievement of social justice and of marginalized groups.
There are, however, four important things in its achievement (justice); 1) being brave for self-help and self-justice; 2) carrying out real actions for self-help, for self-liberation, and for the right conscience, 3) resilient and/or perseverance until total demise of oppression and injustice and; 4) spreading such actions to all sectors that contribute to injustice.
It would be a situation, where actions speak clearer and make more sense than words. It would be a matter of one person rising to the occasion and bringing in a few friends, who in turn, would together move for social activism whilst reserving optimism towards realization of justice, respect for values, emancipation of the marginalized, equality in resource distribution and social progress. This, perhaps, could be an answer to how true a Kenyan problem needs a Kenyan person’s answer.
Ghandi and Martin Luther non-violence actions for social justice offer good sources of inspirations. Their strategy was never a betrayal, but a real success later after and benefits are there for all mankind to see. Like Jesus Christ, they were killed for the good of the masses they struggled for while the fruits of their deaths continue to be enjoyed and their strategy, still, is the most popular and successful.
Those who have read or watched Ghandi and Martin literature or videos may have learned from the following; refusal to acknowledge unjust gestures and practices as well as systems, non-cooperation, peaceful demonstrations, sit-downs, denunciation and defiance, making oneself first and at the front to be at par with one’s moral conscience, which is cased by preaching, speeches, and writings and videos about oppressed concerns. The most interesting in such aspects is that they would be most biting to the oppressor yet no guns or bullets get used against him or her (oppressor). It would not be very long when fulfillments first in the individual and then, to those around him, soon emerge.
This, therefore, would be a lesson for the oppressed and marginalized in Kenya and elsewhere, where injustice is the rule, principle, convention and order for the oppressor’s convenience. Victims of such must rise to be counted, must rise and struggle for the freedoms of generations to come and must break unjust rules, conventions and orders for self-liberation such that in turn, friends and families are liberated, and for social, political and economic liberation in a long run. And to achieve these, non-violence approach would be most suitable alternative, as it would help solve the equation of aggressive confrontation leading to deaths as unworthy now, where instead, an intelligent alternative and more sensible actions are used to unconsciously demoralize and demobilize even the armed.
Jacob Waiswa, waiswajacobo@yahoo.co.uk
The writer is a Situation Health Analyst and Orientator in the Humanist Movement with interest in Human Behavior.
