ABSTRACT
Today, Kenya's socioeconomic structure, its politics, and even the state itself are warped by ethnicity to the extent that 'tribalism' or 'ethnicity' (two concepts that would be used interchangeably in this chapter) has become a common frame of reference and national ideology. As some ethnic groups claim their turn to control the state, ethnic mistrust and hatred is being bred and expressed through bloody incidences of ethnic clashes. The infusion of tribalism into politics has also contributed to stalemates in the democratic transition, constitutional reforms, and the anointment of Moi's successor. Mutuma Mathiu (1998) best illustrates this prevalence of ethnicity in Kenyan politics and its impact on the state in a hypothetical 'Second Coming' of Jesus Christ. Mathiu points out that on his return, Christ will be disappointed with Kenyans for not heeding his warning that 'any Kingdom divided against itself is laid to waste; and a house divided against itself falls.' According to Mathiu, Jesus would see not only a divided ruling party but also a divided opposition. He will then
look to the four winds and see tribes, each with its son under its arm saying: Now appoint from among us a president to judge all the other tribes. Give us a king to judge others. He would look, with disgust, into the hearts of the duplicitous chaps who have thus rigged their tribesmen [and women] to proffer them as the next Saul. And perhaps He would repeat: I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled (Mutuma Mathiu in Sunday Nation (Nairobi), December 20, 1998).
