It is time we bid farewell to ' MTU WETU ' factor mentality.

"Tribalism blind the mind and soul."~ Dr. Mohammed Faig

I was working on this assignment about intercultural communication and I came across the concept of ethnocentrism. It is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one’s own culture. It has something to do with feeling that one’s culture is more superior to another.

What rings a bell in my mind is the various ethnic groups in Kenya. There are over 42 tribes. In terms of cultures we are so rich but the problem comes in with the mtu wetu factor. Am sure you can relate to what am alluding here.

Someone is suspended in government because of looting cash and people start speculating that it is because they come from a certain ethnic background. An appointment is made and people feel that people from certain ethnic groups should have been appointed instead.

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It is not the best kind of mentality to have. We, as Kenyans, should think beyond ethnic affiliations. Perhaps it about time our voting method even took a different turn. Let’s vote quality people over their ethnic groups. We need to rethink on this now more than ever given that we are approaching an election year.

The Mtu wetu factor should be a thing of the past. It is slowly destroying us. It is making us to lag behind in terms of social, political and economic developments. Its about time we bid adieu to this barbaric mentality.

By: Mercy Simatwo

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