Dr Kobia was in awe of the Gen Z initiatives promoting national unity in the country, opining that this was a good thing for the commission.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) on Thursday, July 11 hailed Generation Z for leading peaceful protests that were devoid of tribalism, a remarkable shift in terms of the political atmosphere in Kenya.
NCIC Chairperson, Reverend Dr. Samuel Kobia, while addressing the media, hailed the youth for identifying themselves first as Kenyans which is in support of the Commission’s vision of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.”
Dr Kobia was in awe of the Gen Z initiatives promoting national unity in the country, opining that this was a good thing for the commission.
Protesters in Nairobi against the Finance Bill 2024. /THE STAR
“As NCIC, we have followed the Gen Z initiatives and we want to state that the fact that they are tribeless is to us as NCIC a positive thing,” Kobia remarked.
“We have been promoting in the country, a country that has Kenyans first and foremost, then other identities follow, and particularly tribes, ethnicities.”
The Chairperson emphasised the value of issue-based rather than ethnic-based approaches, especially with regard to general elections.
“For us, I want to say that a group that emerges that is specifically saying they are tribeless is welcomed because if we deal with the issues in the country just like the way we called Kenyans in the run-up to the elections saying that elections must be issue-based not ethnic-based,” he emphasized.
Regarding the nature of the recent anti-government protests, Kobia commended the Gen Z for supervising the peaceful nature of the protests, which the commission had monitored as they continued.
“We welcome the fact that the Gen Z demonstrations were peaceful and we followed very closely, particularly the very first one which it was clear that it was Gen Z and it was peaceful therefore that is the other thing that we commend the Gen Z,” NCIC said.
Kobia’s and the support of the NCIC for the protests show a significant change in the country’s society, with the younger generation shunning tribal lines and calling more for national unity.
Over the years, the commission has raised issues on tribal issues mostly instigated by a section of politicians in the country.
It has summoned a series of politicians in regard to remarks bordering on incitement and hate speech along tribal lines, particularly in public events they have addressed.
Boniface Mwangi participating in the anti-Finance Bill protests on June 20, 2024. /BONIFACE MWANGI