This archive report was first published on 22 December 2019.
As we approach another general election, it's clear that our political class has failed to learn from history.
Instead of focusing on the issues that matter, politicians are busy pandering to their respective tribes, making bold assertions about which tribe will win or lose in the presidential race.
Recently, a performing artist released a video criticizing our political leaders, calling them cynical psychopaths and the citizens irredeemable idiots.
While some politicians threatened to sue him, the issue quickly faded from the headlines, a testament to Kenyans' short attention span.
Our political system is crippled by its inability to shake off the colonial legacy that classified us into tribes, determining that our tribal identity would define our entire being.
At every social engagement, our tribe becomes the mask we wear to properly interact with other Kenyans.
Our political parties are either mono-ethnic vehicles to power or coalitions of individuals who consider themselves leaders of their tribes.
These tribal parties form alliances to win power, only to fall out when the realities of statecraft clash with the demands of entitled tribal chieftains.
Kenyans are the ultimate losers in this cycle, as the chieftains continue to prioritize their personal interests while accusing those in charge of marginalizing their tribes.
As long as we continue down this path, our future looks bleak.
We're boxing the younger generation into a reality where they must identify with tribes they no longer recognize to have their voices heard in the political arena.
Those who speak out against the status quo are cursed, attacked, and even threatened with jail.
It's time for us to break free from this cycle of tribal politics and focus on the issues that truly matter.
As Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Moi University School of Medicine, Lukoye Atwoli offers a scathing critique of our political system and its effects on Kenyan society.
