Pope calls on Kenyans to end tribalism for a united nation

Pope Francis has challenged Kenyans, and specifically the youth, to stand against tribalism that he says brings about unnecessary differences and eventually culminates into war.

Speaking at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani where he led thousands of youths in holding hands as a statement of denouncing tribalism, the Pope said that negative ethnicity and tribalism can happen through hearing, kept in the heart and result to violence.

“Tribalism can destroy. It can mean having your hands hidden behind your hands and having a stone in each hand to throw to others,” said the Pope.

“If you don’t dialogue and listen to each other, then you are going to have vision like a worm and dust in society.”

The Pope noted that overcoming ethnicity in the country is a daily endeavor and it is the work of the ear to listen to others, the heart in which we open to others and the hands which we use to do good.

“Let us all stand against bad tribalism,” stated Pope Francis. “We are all a nation and that’s how our hearts must be.”

The country has faced ugly incidences of ethnicity with the worst being the 2007/2008 Post-Election Violence that left at least 1,300 people dead and over 600,000 others displaced.

The Pope’s message comes even as leaders try to unite Kenyans ahead of the 2017 General Elections.

In August 2015, Deputy President William Ruto appealed to Kenyans to unite and confront tribal hatred and corruption in the country.

Ruto called on Kenyans to shun divisions based on ethnic and political affiliations noting that the country should be a unifying factor.

“I want to urge my fellow Kenyans, the challenge we face of tribalism calls on us to unite and say no to those who propagate hatred among Kenyans,” said the Deputy President.

In May this year, President Uhuru Kenyatta asked Kenyans to stop divisive politics and embrace unity if the country is to progress

The President asked Kenyans to end hate speech and tribalism which he said were rampant in the country.

In the same month, Wiper Democratic Movement leader and CORD co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka urged Kenyans to embrace inter-ethnic marriage as a way to end tribalism.

Kalonzo urged Kenyans to root for one nation devoid of negative energy, and forge for a united country.