A Kenyan man exercises his democratic right to vote. [ Photo/thebigissue]
The secessionist discourse is not exclusively a Kenyan issue; it's all over the world, from Yugoslavia to Catalonia to Sudan, there has been a persistent call for secession with completely different results in each situation. Reasons for calls may vary from region to region. However, at the core of secessionist discourse is usually the feeling, real or imagined, that there is a sense of exclusion either socially or economically. In some situations, variance in cultural practices may embolden calls for secession. Which begs the question: Which factors have precipitated the current calls for secession in Kenya?
Is there justification for the current impasse?Those calling for secession are citing perceived marginalization for decades in the entity called Kenya.
There is a feeling that two communities have held onto power with a strong grip at the expense of the rest who have no other option but to watch as others eat 'nyama.'In this regard, there is the feeling that the winner- take-it-all kind of government is the root of the problem.There is a growing feeling that the current arrangement, which is the product of the 2010 constitution, is no longer tenable as it makes others watch from the fence. Yet ironically, the very constitution of 2010 was drafted purposely to address the issue of exclusion. By establishing regional governments in the counties, it was thought that this would ease the pressure of exclusion within the government.
This was not to be. It appears that Kenyans would only be happy in a 'nusu-mkate' arrangement where loser and winner take something home.Kenya is indeed at a crossroad and there is a need for a serious dialogue on the way forward.