Problem of exclusion is a major challenge in Kenya, which needs to be urgently addressed in a bid of ensuring national integration and cohesion.
According to Ove Korsgaard from the University of Aarhus, Denmark, Kenyans intend to specialize in things that divide than those that unite them.
“It is human nature always to try having something that others do not have, this usually lead to struggle resulting to exclusion,” noted Korsgaard.
He explained that the national identity is not fast of all created by politicians but educators, artists, historians, poets, writers, musicians and virtual artists who through their literacy pass messages of individual ethnic communities geared towards unifying the country.
Sharing at the same Pamoja forum in Machakos on Tuesday, Ndungu Gaithuma, and Chairperson Kikuyu Council of Elders argues that Kenyan leaders should sit with elders for leadership directions and in a bid of uniting the nation.
Gaithuma observed that there is need for unity of purpose among all Kenyan communities as a move towards realization of national cohesion and integration.
On the same discussion, Julius Jwan, Program Director at NCIC, said one of the major structures as Kenya struggles to promote national cohesion is economic development.
Jwan says issues of identity should therefore be linked with economic development to make national cohesion and integration successful.
He asserted that issues of identity are emotional and warned against attempts by certain groups or individuals on forcing fellow Kenyans to belong to particular identities.
The director challenged the Kenyan education system stating that it does not promote cohesion; he argues that children are never given opportunities to identify with their ethnic backgrounds.
“To what extent has we as Kenyans embedded our diversity to the Kenyan education system?” he questions.
The officer added that NCIC is keen and committed to ensuring that communications on social media are monitored, and propagators of hate speech on such sites brought to book in a bid of ensuring national cohesion and integration.
He says the 2012/13 peaceful elections is an indicator that Kenyans can peacefully go through political leadership transition peacefully.