Ethnicity is playing a key negative role in our societies as

Kenyans
George Mwita, PhD Student (UON)
Ethnicity and tribalism in Kenya is not news at all. It has been
business as usual as long as at least 100 years. What is surprising
is that successive regimes have not had the political and moral
guts to de-ethnicize the nation through affirmative action and
proactive inclusivity. As long as tyranny of tribal numbers
determines the ethnicity of the presidency there is absolutely
nothing anyone can do to change the status quo!
On 7th April, 2016, I published an article on how the Kuria community has been
sidelined on national appointments Since independence the Kuria
community has missed out on high profile national government
jobs despite the community having educated persons and always
voting in the Governments. In Moi and Kibaki regimes we had
various positions-assistant ministers, chairmen of state
corporations, CEOs and many other positions appointed by them.
As Kuria, we however felt the positions were not commensurate
with expectations arising from our votes and the pattern
in Nyanza.
However, my opinion is that the two regimes tried, given the new
constitution was either not in place or was in transiting in. The
current Government came under the new constitution and Kuria
emerged with a similar voting trend that saw the current Jubilee
government in. As the new constitution emphasizes on national
values and principal of governance including representation of
marginalized communities, among others, the community had
high hopes for at least one cabinet secretary and Principal
Secretary Position, among others. Such positions carry influence
on national development agenda and therefore, inherently, would
have assisted our community in many pressing issues like jobs for
the youths and other related development projects

As I went through this long list of the new appointees, I kept on

hoping to see the names of our own sons and daughters, Mwitas
and Rhobis who are professors and PhD holders only to find
myself at the end of the list.

My fellow members, the following are the new appointees:1. Philip Nzamba
Education

Kitonga,

Chairperson,

Council

for

Legal

2. Ronald Osumba, Chairperson, Youth Enterprise Development

Fund
3. Dr. Francis Kipkurui Sang, Chairperson Betting Control &
Licensing Board
4. Raphael Tuju, Chairperson, Lake Basin Development Authority
(LBDA)
5. Prof. Michael Bowen, Chairperson, Industrial Development Bank
6. Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Julius Waweru Karangi, Chairperson, Kenya
Airports Authority
7. Deborah Bubi, Chairperson, Youth Advisory Board
8. Ramadhan Seif Kajembe, Chairperson, Kenya Ferry Services
9. Dr. Rashid A. Aman, Chairperson, Kenya National Commission
for UNESCO
10. Dr. David Wamamili Wanyonyi, Chairperson Kenya Tsetse and
Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council (KENTTEC)

11. Mwambu Muliro, Chairperson, Kenya Utalii College

12. Eng. Sammy Tangus, Chairperson, Kenya Yearbook Editorial
13. Dr. Wycliffe Omurwayi, Chairperson, Kenya Plant Health
Inspectorate Services
14. Eng. David Nduhiu Muthoga, Vice- Chairperson, Kenya Medical
Training College
15. Angeline Yiamiton Siparo, Chairperson, National AIDS Control
Council
16. Noah Katana Ngala, Chairperson, Kenya National Library
Services
17. Wilfred Sang, Chairperson, Postal Corporation of Kenya
18. Patrick Osero, Chairperson, Tourism Finance Corporation
19. Bifwoli
Corporation

Wakoli,

Chairperson,

Agricultural

Development

20. Prof. Michael Chege, Chairperson, NEPAD

21. Jenifer Shamalla, Council Member, NEPAD
22. Micheal Muia Kisilu, Council Member, NEPAD
23. Lucy Yinda, Chairperson, Street Families Rehabilitation Trust
24. Dr. Paula Kahumbu, Chairperson, National Museums of Kenya
25. John Mututho, Chairperson, Transport Licensing Appeals Board
26. Alice May Kirenge,
Development Authority

Board

Member,

LAPSSET

Corridor

27. Fauziya B. Karama,

Development Authority

Board

Member

LAPSSET

Corridor

28. James Wachira Board Member LAPSSET Corridor Development

Authority
29. Ali Dida Abkula Board Member LAPSSET Corridor Development
Authority
30. Mark Dunford Board Member, The Kenya Utalii College
31 .Charity Selina Kisotu, Chairperson Insurance Tribunal
32.
Kazungu Kambi Chairperson, National Government
Constituency Development Fund (Subject to parliamentary
approval)
As I conclude, the following questions keep recurring in my mind:i.

Where did Kuria as a community go wrong?

ii.

Is it true that as a community, our sons and daughters are

only class two and three dropout as put by former president
Moi some time back?

iii.

Who will come to the rescue of Umukuria?

iv.

Are our Kuria Political leaders aware of this statistics? If yes,

when will they question this injustices? I can go on and on
and on