The Luo - Kikuyu divide is more than political

When two bulls fight, the grass feels the heat. The scenario (let me not call it bad blood) between the Luo and Kikuyu in this country is peculiar to Kenya. When these two tribes find a reason to work together, Kenya jumps major huddles- but only for as long as the ‘marriage’ lasts. These two communities can decide to unite and share the presidency between them for long, may be their ‘animosity’ is a blessing in disguise to 'small' tribes.

In my attempt to try and get a solution for Kenya, I have realized that the difference is more than political. It is engrained in the DNA of the two communities; there are many fundamental differences that will have to be bridged before the political difference is solved. I will speak as an outsider though I acknowledge I am a Luo with two names from both communities.

Kikuyus are generally farmers while Luos are originally cattle keepers. The two cultures have followed the two tribes to the city and into the diaspora. The Kikuyus like all farmers are patient- they will invest (plant) and wait for the season of harvesting. The Luos who are pastoralists turned fishermen, are used to going to the cattle shed or the lake, fish out what is available and feast for the day.

The Kikuyu are used to seasons of crop failure so they will save for the dry season. The Luo on the other hand are used to living one day at a time. Cattle is slaughtered, dried for preservation or eaten fresh as a community. They will go fishing everyday and not miss what to eat, the lake is a constant. Now you know why Kikuyus are good investors and Luos good spenders.

Politically, when Kikuyus get into positions of power they fence it off like all farmers. They slot their henchmen in vital positions and begin the process of cultivating and harvesting. The pastoralists like Moi regime would graze down a government project then move in search of greener pastures to feed on again. Fishermen would put in the structures (nets) and exploit the catch day in and wait for retirement.

Another main difference is that Luos are patriarchal while Kikuyus are matriarchal. This is evident from the fact that many women MPs to ever grace the august house are from the Kikuyu community. To the Kikuyu, the children belong to the mother, while to the Luos the children are called by their father’s name. If Barack Obama was a Kikuyu, he would not care about his ancestral roots.

The other factor is how to attain results. While Luo children are raised to love excellence and guard their reputation, Kikuyu bring up their children with the balance sheet in mind. It does not matter how you earn your money- rich people are respected. Watch a Luo and a Kikuyu carpenter, the Luo would rather make flashy furniture and keep it for months- enjoying the glamour. The Kikuyu will make average pieces and sell many at a reasonable price.

The food Luos eat must be prepared to a certain standard. If someone cooks food that does not match the ‘lifestyle’ it will be called kikuyu food. Kikuyus on the other hand do not mind the quality; they will mix the food, boil and serve. They would rather spend time looking for money than eating good food.

I always tell people that former MP Njenga Karume should thank God he was not born a Luo, he would never have seen the inside of parliament. Luos will respect a poor professor and even elect him to parliament at the expense of a wealthy opponent. Education matters a lot, not just attaining it but even where you get it matters. So a Maseno University graduate will not ‘speak’ where a University of Nairobi graduate is.

Luos abhor blood- it takes a Luo more than guts to murder someone in cold blood. On the flip side, they are ruthless with people who do not tow the ‘upright’ social order. The thieves and conmen of Kisumu will never live in peace when identified. The people will come and get a thief from his mother’s house if they have to. On the flip side, Kikuyus will defend their kith and kin as long as it was a matter of earning some money. I have a hunch that if Mungiki was a Luo outfit it would have been annihilated, not by the state but the community.

Raila’s son Fidel in an interview with Kwach and Angwenyi on Easy FM said that his grandfather’s parting shot to them was “do not bring down my name.” To the Luo, the name matters a lot, reputation is guarded at all costs unlike the Kikuyu’s. Then there is the engrained socialism/capitalism divide. Urbanization has thrown the Luo socialism into an imbalance. The Kikuyu had their socialism broken down by colonial displacements and they adopted capitalism.

There has been a tremendous increase in Luo-Kikuyu intermarriages recently. I believe this will form a middle ground where the two communities can bridge their differences. The political differences stem from an inbuilt engrained culture. Whenever these marriages work you see a very stable and developed home. Even when it is a business partnership, the cultural mix just takes the venture to great heights. Luos are good managers while Kikuyus are risk takers.

The Raila-Kibaki generation will not sort it, but the younger generation can find a reason to agree to disagree. Like in a marriage, you accept your spouse at their best and worst. Unlike poles attract, and each has traits the other lacks but needs. The problem is the supremacy ego between the two- it must be sorted soon if we are to achieve Vision 2030.

I urge the government and the ministry of education in particular to work out a formula of sorting this problem. Nyanza and Central can exchange students and the students who agree to take up the placements be put on scholarships. This interaction may give rise to a different generation of Kikuyus and Luos which will be good for Kenya.

© Feb 15^th 2012