Inter-ethnic marriages, National symbols urged to increase Nation Cohesion

By John Harry Ndeta , Ajabu Africa News

NAIROBI, Kenya_ APRIL 27_President Mwai Kibaki has called upon Kenyans to unite and pursue a common destiny, with other leaders urging for more inter-ethnic marriages and promotion of National symbols as way to increase the rate of national cohesion.

The President accompanied with the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo, Internal Security Minster George Saitoti and a host of other Government officials set foot at Bomas at 10.00 am and was entertained by the Bomas of Kenya artists before giving his keynote address.

The conference that brought together over 500 elders from all the Districts of the country was dubbed “one nation one people and one destiny.”

The President who spoke when he officially opened the National Cohesion Elders conference on Tuesday April 21th 2010 , said Elders are a critical resource that possesses untapped potential in ensuring that Kenya coheres and integrates into one nation, one people and one destiny.

It was observed that one of the key challenges we are facing as a nation is to turn the multiplicity of our culture into a resource for our national growth.

This diversity and multiplicity of the cultures and tribes has in the past has been detrimental to Kenya’s national good.

President Kibaki hinted at the possibility of East African Integration where the five countries, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi come together as one block. This is not possible if Kenya is not yet integrated.

Kibaki emphasized the need for working together in National building by developing a national policy on Kenyan values and ethics which reflect the culture and tradition of all tribes.

The need for all Kenyans to deal with each other without ethnic tendencies is key in realizing national cohesion. Kenya government is working to deal with all hate speech and reign in all those who instigate violence across the country.

President Kibaki pledged his support for the National Cohesion and integration initiative being spearheaded by the Ministry of Justice and National Cohesion. Kibaki encouraged the NCIC to ensure that Kenya becomes a cohesive society.

Nation Cohesion and Integration Commission Chairman  DR. Mazalendo Kibunja was encouraged not just to involve the elders in dispute resolution but also in the integration bid for the Kenyan tribes and communities.

On his part the Prime Minister referred the Elders conference as a historic meeting in independent Kenya where elders from all the Districts of the country have gathered to chart a common destiny for the country.

The Premier pledged his support for the initiative by the Ministry of Justice to ensure that Kenyans cohere and integrate while acknowledging that Elders are the pillars and the youth are the countenance of the Nation.  In this regard, Raila said another conference for the youth to ensure that Kenyans coheres across ages should be organized sooner that later.

He asked all Kenyan tribes to stay together in unity and challenged the elders to sit together and chat the countries way forward.

On the first day of the Elders conference, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka had addressed the elders where he  stressed the importance of patriotism and tolerance among the diverse communities if the country has to achieve national cohesion.

“National integration and cohesion will be achieved when in the minds of our people being Kenyan becomes the privileged form of identity”, Kalonzo noted.

Kenyans should, he added, identify and promote national symbols including the national and official languages in order to break the barriers that divide them.

He urged the youth to embrace inter-ethnic marriages that he said will forge better understanding and tolerance of divergent cultures.

Political leaders should also desist from promoting ethnic chauvinism among Kenyans and preach peace and unity instead.

Kalonzo called for the review of the law on National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to include elders as elders play a key role in conflict resolution and national cohesion.

On his part, Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo expressed sincere gratitude to the President for sparing time to join the elders at the conference as enhancing National Unity is paramount in achieving the vision 2030.

The conference was said to be a culmination of the efforts by the Government of Kenya to see an integrated nation. Issues of insecurity, thugery, land issues, political assassination, and disempowerment of the elders were singled out as issues that need urgent attention.

The 9 member committee on the National Elders conference chaired by Lady Justice Retired Effie Owuor (Chair of the Committee of Elders) said that their mandate was to organize a national conference to bring together Kenya’s which they were proud to be in attendance.

Dr. Mzalendo Kibunja  the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) Chairperson thanked the president for giving his commission a chance to ensure that Kenyans live in harmony and peace and are not discriminated on any grounds.

The NCIC has been charged to ensure that no one incites another. Hate speech is one issue that the commission is giving due attention and appeal s to all Kenyans to desist from issuing defamatory statements even as we prepare for a constitutional referendum alter in the year.

UNDP Country Representative, Mr. Aeneas Chuma thanked all the stakeholders for their support and commitment to ensuring that Kenya sticks together. He said that this conference provides an opportunity to ensure that Kenyan is cushioned against a possibility of violence breaking out in the future.

The UN System appreciated the work of IIEC and NCIC as a follow up to the proposed reforms after the events of 2007/8 but castigated the failure by TJRC to rise to the occasion and fulfill the expectations of many.
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Involvement of Women and the youth is critical in ensuring that cohesion and integration becomes a reality. Our diversity should not be a challenge but an opportunity to collaborate and emerge as a one nation, one people and one destiny.

Internal Security Minister Prof. George Saitoti said that peace building and conflict management is one of the key focuses of his Ministry. A National Policy on Peace Building and conflict Management which gave birth to Peace Committees was a guiding pillar in ensuring Kenya remains safe by strengthening Government-Civil Society Partnerships in the area of peace building.

The ministry is developing a peace award system in form of peace trophies, recognition as peace ambassadors among other ventures focus on security, National integration and investments leading to the realization of the vision 2030.