On Tuesday April 2, 2013, panic mood engulfed a village in Migori County after a middle aged man committed suicide. It came after Prime Minister Raila Odinga confirmed that he lost the Supreme Court petition challenging the election of President Uhuru Kenyatta as the fourth President of Kenya. The man said he had no reason to live without seeing Hon. Raila Odinga as President. There has since been reported two more related suicides.
Judging from the fierce exchanges of comments I read from Facebook, there is no doubt that the outcome of this year’s election has triggered irrational reaction from many of us. On one hand disgust and curses, on the other great jubilation, mockery and sneering. “Sweet is the defeat of your foe than the victory of your friend,” so goes the saying. Many of those rejoicing, did so, more because Raila was defeated than that Hon. Uhuru won. This scenario could easily push us into the precipice of unending conflicts.
Judging from the fierce exchanges of comments I read from Facebook, there is no doubt that the outcome of this year’s election has triggered irrational reaction from many of us. On one hand disgust and curses, on the other great jubilation, mockery and sneering. “Sweet is the defeat of your foe than the victory of your friend,” so goes the saying. Many of those rejoicing, did so, more because Raila was defeated than that Hon. Uhuru won. This scenario could easily push us into the precipice of unending conflicts.
Why would someone die for political course?
The grief of people that voted for CORD is best captured by the eccentric Miguna Miguna:”It’s not a feeling of entitlement and arrogance as most pedantic commentators have claimed;it’s a feeling of alienation, frustration,and powerlessness. It’s not a symptom of “the Luo Arrogance.In my view, it’s a cry for help. A cry for inclusion. A burning desire to belong. To be accepted as full citizens and be able to ascend to any leadership position without resistance and stumbling blocks.’
So those big men crying, like babies, are not angry. They are frightened about tomorrow. A fear informed by their horrendous past. Vivid atrocities of yesteryears; the suppression and human right violations and the impunity of the country’s two longest regimes; poverty born of intentional skewed distribution of national resources, in favour of regions in power.
Could what professor Miroslav Volf, a Croat, said about the trigger of the conflict in Yugoslavia pitching ethnic Serbs, Croats among other protagonists, shed some light for us? The explanation that reactions and expressions of pain today are built on past pain. He said :”As long as it is remembered, the past is not just the past; it remains an aspect of the present. A remembered wound is an experienced wound.”
Deep wounds from the past can so much pain our present that, as Toni Morrison puts it in Beloved, “the future becomes“a matter of keeping the past at bay”.
One would not rule out that the, so many stories, trajectories of scattered lives, of many Kenyans, chance coincidences punctuated with heartbreaking missed opportunities, tears and a kaleidoscope painful memories shared, stories that made people bitter. These were narratives the youth in this country and not only the Luos grew up with.
They were partly responsible for the palpable rage one notices as they throw rocks and riot. This bitter past is shared in their leader’s plight. Whenever Odinga’s political ambitions are threatened or thwarted they are pained. For in him resides a charisma and a drive to change that past for the better. To such a charismatic leader they would give their all. Such leadership is characterised more by movement and revolution for it is a means of overturning traditions and laws in favour of an entirely new social and political order. Which is why the emotional bond with followers becomes necessary – a leadership that influences followers to commit to it is charismatic leadership and not buying them out with freebies.
Is kenya’s democracy evolving ?
Our fragile democracy ought to have taken a different trajectory than this. We are deeply tribalised. Tribes with numbers and access to power and resources would always win.
If we are to mature our democracy, we must heed the warning of Prof Alan Wolfe; the history of modern democracy is one of ever expanding inclusion, it’s about taking in…Rather than keeping out…He further observes; “Once upon a time, it is said, such societies were ruled by privileged elites. Governing circles were restricted to those of the correct gender, breeding, education, and social exclusiveness. All this changes as a result of those multiple forces usually identified by the term democracy. First the middle classes, then working men, then women, then racial minorities all won not only economic rights but political and social rights as well. (Wolfe 1992, 309) .
It becomes condescending and wrong to exclude anyone interested from playing a role. Until then, two weeks ago, I had only read it on internet the hostility with which Hon. Raila was viewed. I got stung when a friend told me to my face ;”…Raila can never be president of Kenya…You Luos should give us someone else.” Why not him ? Hon. Uhuru made it clear to the world during the campaign period, that the choice of Kenyans leaders was a prerogative of Kenyans and the western world leaders should keep off.
Professor Volf again is articulate when he observes that, “Symbolic exclusion is often a distortion of the other, not simply ignorance about the other; it is a wilful misconstruction, not mere failure of knowledge. We demonise and bestialise not because we do not know better, but because we refuse to know what is manifest and choose to know what serves our interests.”
It was great and honourable for Hon. Raila to endorse and support President Kibaki’s candidacy in 2002. He was ‘Jamba’ for bringing down the invincible Kanu’s hold on power. But he became evil in an attempt to be president himself.
Leadership to inspire a united Kenya
Miguna missed the point in deifying Raila’s in his supporters eyes. Nowadays, whenever they attend their deity Raila Odinga’s functions, the mob responds to each and every word he utters with “Yes, Baba”. In liberation politics, the emotional and psychological investment needed on the part of the followers is very high – it can last for a while but eventually must wear out.
In a broadcast in 1936 Dietrich Bonhoeffer spoke on the young people’s view on the concept of leadership, he said: “Since the Great War (1914-1919), the youth of our nation has worked to establish an identity of their own different from the other generations…like in the concept of the leader…In any generation the people give the leader his authority over them. The leader often becomes the embodiment of their dreams, aspirations and ideals…In exchange the leader may expect unconditional obedience, such obedience may not be a bad thing as long as it serves a good cause….”
It is irrefutable fact to both friends and foes that, Hon. Raila exploited this loyal support to the benefit of our nation’s political changes experienced recently.
The new constitution promulgated in 2010 gave great hope that the country will move forward from her ghostly past of inequalities, occasioned by exclusion of other communities from the centre on issues of governance and resources allocation. It pointed to a liberated space of being a Kenyan. Knowing that some in this new government were opposed to it and the lukewarm approach towards its full implementation seen recently there is little hope that the constitution will deliver its promise!
Having power now, your guess will be as good as mine on whether the ideals enshrined in the constitution will survive the onslaught of the dominant ideas against the pressure of the underprivileged. The most seminal impact of envy consists …in transforming “the ideas of the dominant” into the “dominant ideas.” Once the link between the privileged position and certain values has been socially constructed, the disprivileged are prompted to seek redress for their humiliation through demanding such values for themselves-and thereby further enhancing those values’ seductive power.(Bauman 1993,216).
Will our new government uphold the letter and the spirit of our constitution?
No healing is required as they are not sick. Volf states that, “Psychological wounds caused by suffering can be healed only if a person passes through the narrow door of painful memories”.
Yet baffling that one would die for this!
Rev. Canon Francis Omondi
Anglican Church of Kenya ,
All saints Cathedral diocese
5th April, 2013
Lucas Owako
This is a great piece. I think someone is understanding me. No, I am not sick, but I am wounded. I have been in Nyanza since Friday, and people are really wounded. The look in the eyes of our people haunt me. On Friday and Saturday morning, they were clinging to the Supreme Court like drowning people clinging to a straw. Then that was washed away. Its terrible! Yes, your article talks about the embodiment of communal aspirations. They have seen theirs die, with no hope of resurrection. It is possible to dismiss their pain, bitterness and hopelessness as that of vain people who are worshiping a politician. But if you look, even with very little objectivity, at their history, you would understand why they feel hopeless.I heard one mzee mourn: “Nyasaye dak iduog iketh piny?” (God, why don’t you come back and destroy the earth?) Then the other responded: “Ka Nyasaye nitie to ok odwar Joluo” (If God exists, then he hates Luos)
waanglicana
OMG… We need a help before I is too late .
Rev. Meshack Okumu
Can Francis, I love what you are sharing about here; but will people read it with an open mind without seeing the “O” at the beginning of your name? Kenya ina shida
waanglicana
That’s the problem Rev I wish we were open !
Lucas Owako
This is a great piece. I think someone is understanding me. No, I am not sick, but I am wounded. I have been in Nyanza since Friday, and people are really wounded. The look in the eyes of our people haunt me. On Friday and Saturday morning, they were clinging to the Supreme Court like drowning people clinging to a straw. Then that was washed away. Its terrible! Yes, your article talks about the embodiment of communal aspirations. They have seen theirs die, with no hope of resurrection. It is possible to dismiss their pain, bitterness and hopelessness as that of vain people who are worshiping a politician. But if you look, even with very little objectivity, at their history, you would understand why they feel hopeless.I heard one mzee mourn: “Nyasaye dak iduog iketh piny?” (God, why don’t you come back and destroy the earth?) Then the other responded: “Ka Nyasaye nitie to ok odwar Joluo” (If God exists, then he hates Luos)
waanglicana
OMG… We need a help before I is too late .
Rev. Meshack Okumu
Can Francis, I love what you are sharing about here; but will people read it with an open mind without seeing the “O” at the beginning of your name? Kenya ina shida
waanglicana
That’s the problem Rev I wish we were open !
thebrooder
Thank you for this piece. I have held the view that this election did nothing to heal the wounds that have been threatening to tear this country apart and I can understand the alienation that some communities must be feeling. While there is not much we can do to about the outcome of the election right now, we must demand that the new government makes it a priority to unite all Kenyans by not displaying any preferential treatment in the distribution of resources, as well as in the appointment of qualified individuals to government agencies. We must promote an all-inclusive culture of governance, so that no Kenyan feels left out.
thebrooder
Thank you for this piece. I have held the view that this election did nothing to heal the wounds that have been threatening to tear this country apart and I can understand the alienation that some communities must be feeling. While there is not much we can do to about the outcome of the election right now, we must demand that the new government makes it a priority to unite all Kenyans by not displaying any preferential treatment in the distribution of resources, as well as in the appointment of qualified individuals to government agencies. We must promote an all-inclusive culture of governance, so that no Kenyan feels left out.
Anne Omondi
O God of all creation. Bless this our land and nation. Heal our wounded broken spirits, save us from Zion’s hill where our help comes from.
Anne Omondi
O God of all creation. Bless this our land and nation. Heal our wounded broken spirits, save us from Zion’s hill where our help comes from.
Mopa
Rev. Its so unfortunate that we claim to be christians (80% of the Kenyan population) yet we prefer to trust in men instead of God!
waanglicana
The tragedy of this very vice in the church. We have work to do
Mopa
Rev. Its so unfortunate that we claim to be christians (80% of the Kenyan population) yet we prefer to trust in men instead of God!
waanglicana
The tragedy of this very vice in the church. We have work to do
dkinyuru
Yes indeed. The hope has gone. Have been attending a medical ethics conference that begun today in Tenwek. The speaker talked about the problem of the Supreme Court being a place where men does not belief in transcendence, and so can easily not care that even them they will be judged. He said that in such scenario really justice will be an occasional thing. It then hit me that is what has happened in Kenya. What you have shared i did share with a Kikuyu brother who also shared with me why they love Uhuru to the death and it is all because of 2008. So i understood them. What baffles me is that even then , they would agree to demonize one is such away that he is seen as the devil incarnate. While some see that as being political smart, i think if Raila did that, we will not have a society called Kenya, we would tear each other. The speaker also spoke of something i think as Christian we need to ponder, when justice is not seen, then how do you preach love or God who loves us. Like the Wazees Lucas is talking about, how easy for them to go to Witchdoctor than to trust God, who to them does not want Luos to lead Kenya. These are the questions that we ourselves must graple with, and give credible answers to Christians who come from the Luo heritage without the cliches that we at times can have. In general the article is spot on, the issue is how do we move on from here? How do we tell Luos God love them when even where there is some evidence election was not credible someone tells them you are wrong?
How do we tell them there is pain, but God has not ceased to love people especially Luos? How do we separate God’s love for them as individual and his love for them as a community( in this case does God care for their aspirations, political and economic emancipation )
Lucas and Rev Omondi we have some work to do. May be beginning with ourselves. Are we convinced that God cares for what we care for?
dkinyuru
Yes indeed. The hope has gone. Have been attending a medical ethics conference that begun today in Tenwek. The speaker talked about the problem of the Supreme Court being a place where men does not belief in transcendence, and so can easily not care that even them they will be judged. He said that in such scenario really justice will be an occasional thing. It then hit me that is what has happened in Kenya. What you have shared i did share with a Kikuyu brother who also shared with me why they love Uhuru to the death and it is all because of 2008. So i understood them. What baffles me is that even then , they would agree to demonize one is such away that he is seen as the devil incarnate. While some see that as being political smart, i think if Raila did that, we will not have a society called Kenya, we would tear each other. The speaker also spoke of something i think as Christian we need to ponder, when justice is not seen, then how do you preach love or God who loves us. Like the Wazees Lucas is talking about, how easy for them to go to Witchdoctor than to trust God, who to them does not want Luos to lead Kenya. These are the questions that we ourselves must graple with, and give credible answers to Christians who come from the Luo heritage without the cliches that we at times can have. In general the article is spot on, the issue is how do we move on from here? How do we tell Luos God love them when even where there is some evidence election was not credible someone tells them you are wrong?
How do we tell them there is pain, but God has not ceased to love people especially Luos? How do we separate God’s love for them as individual and his love for them as a community( in this case does God care for their aspirations, political and economic emancipation )
Lucas and Rev Omondi we have some work to do. May be beginning with ourselves. Are we convinced that God cares for what we care for?
Levi
This is an incisive and sobering piece. I am however disturbed by the insinuation especially of some of those commenting, that justice is equal to your preferred candidate clinching victory. This sense of entitlement and a failure to accept any other outcome will only lead to plenty more of hurting and depression-prone people.
Hon. Raila’s remarks in Kisumu on Friday comparing himself to Jesus were to say the least disrespectful, disgusting and outright blasphemous.
Levi
This is an incisive and sobering piece. I am however disturbed by the insinuation especially of some of those commenting, that justice is equal to your preferred candidate clinching victory. This sense of entitlement and a failure to accept any other outcome will only lead to plenty more of hurting and depression-prone people.
Hon. Raila’s remarks in Kisumu on Friday comparing himself to Jesus were to say the least disrespectful, disgusting and outright blasphemous.
Tim Wambunya
Thank you Francis for another excellent article to aid our theological reflection. I am one of those who are deeply wounded by the outcome of our election and the supreme court ruling. Raila Odinga as imperfect as he is represents ‘our’ aspirations… that is those of us who believe in social and economic justice – which in itself is a biblical concept and not a political statement. Those who read the Bible carefully know that equitable distribution of resources ( land and wealth etc), gender equality, advocacy for the rights of the poor and marginalized, etc are biblical themes. No politician should pretend they have invented them. For me, Raila Odinga has been for over 25 years, (I dare say) the only true champion of these biblical themes. Without him I don’t see how we can begin to realize these dreams… that is why I am depressed and mourning.
I actually think Uhuru and Ruto would make a better President and deputy President. They are modern and sharp intellectually. This is what Kenya needs now. However, I think they do not deserve to be there given our sad history of tribalism and monopoly of power by certain ethnic groups. This is the cancer that has killed our nation ( if nations can die).
I also don’t agree that Raila lost the presidency or that the supreme court ruling was sound. How can it be when all the evidence by the petitioner was thrown out.On what basis did they arrive at their position?. If that is justice then I can’t spell the word ‘justice’.
Thank you again Francis for helping me begin to reflect on my sorry situation. This will take a long time to heal because my wound goes back to Mzee Jaramogi Odinga refusing to lead a government without Mzee Kenyatta who later dumped him, refusing to grab land, having his business destroyed, FORD, saba, saba, 6 or is it 9 years detention for Raila, Kibaki tosha, broken memorandums, 2007 daylight theft of elections. This is a big and long lasting wound.
Finally, I don’t think Raila Odinga comparing himself to Jesus who was crucified that we might be saved is blasphemy.. It is actually good/ relevant theology… the Bible speaks today …does it not? This is a contemporary illustration of the passion week.
Tim Wambunya
Thank you Francis for another excellent article to aid our theological reflection. I am one of those who are deeply wounded by the outcome of our election and the supreme court ruling. Raila Odinga as imperfect as he is represents ‘our’ aspirations… that is those of us who believe in social and economic justice – which in itself is a biblical concept and not a political statement. Those who read the Bible carefully know that equitable distribution of resources ( land and wealth etc), gender equality, advocacy for the rights of the poor and marginalized, etc are biblical themes. No politician should pretend they have invented them. For me, Raila Odinga has been for over 25 years, (I dare say) the only true champion of these biblical themes. Without him I don’t see how we can begin to realize these dreams… that is why I am depressed and mourning.
I actually think Uhuru and Ruto would make a better President and deputy President. They are modern and sharp intellectually. This is what Kenya needs now. However, I think they do not deserve to be there given our sad history of tribalism and monopoly of power by certain ethnic groups. This is the cancer that has killed our nation ( if nations can die).
I also don’t agree that Raila lost the presidency or that the supreme court ruling was sound. How can it be when all the evidence by the petitioner was thrown out.On what basis did they arrive at their position?. If that is justice then I can’t spell the word ‘justice’.
Thank you again Francis for helping me begin to reflect on my sorry situation. This will take a long time to heal because my wound goes back to Mzee Jaramogi Odinga refusing to lead a government without Mzee Kenyatta who later dumped him, refusing to grab land, having his business destroyed, FORD, saba, saba, 6 or is it 9 years detention for Raila, Kibaki tosha, broken memorandums, 2007 daylight theft of elections. This is a big and long lasting wound.
Finally, I don’t think Raila Odinga comparing himself to Jesus who was crucified that we might be saved is blasphemy.. It is actually good/ relevant theology… the Bible speaks today …does it not? This is a contemporary illustration of the passion week.
Florence Mbuvi
I long for the day when we will have equitable distribution of resources.
Florence Mbuvi
I long for the day when we will have equitable distribution of resources.
Lucas Owako
Levi, may I mention two things in response to your comment:
1. We are not saying that justice is only when Raila wins. One of the things that amazed me is how my Jubilated friends rejoiced when the Supreme Court threw out Raila’s additional evidence. While I understand in such circumstances, getting a win overshadows the pursuit of truth, I find it hypocritical when the same people then turn around and claim the truth has now been established. Secondly, the injustice we mourn here is not only electoral. I have never forgotten how, when Martha Karua was minister for Water, Kirinyaga District got over 50m for water infrastructure, while my home District, Nyando, got 3m. It was quite a debate in Parliament. When I pointed this out to a brother from Kirinyaga, he told me there is no problem because Nyando gets CDF and LATIF. (Of course this is gotten by all Constituencies). You see, what we mourn is years of targeted marginalisation that our people hoped a Raila win would help resolve. They are not asking for reverse margialisation, just equity. One of the places where I traveled during the Easter weekend had a road, connecting to one of the major fishing Bays in Nyanza, earmarked for tarmacking in 2004. In 2005, funds for the road were transferred elsewhere, and the project was only recently revived under the Grand Coalition Government. One of the wazee told me: @If Kibaki tortured us (in terms of resource allocation) , when we voted for him in 2002, what will now become of us?” There are many many stories like these. That is why I said in my comments above: “But if you look, even with very little objectivity, at their history, you would understand why they feel hopeless.”
2. As for Raila’s remarks in Kisumu, how many times do we compare ourselves to Jesus? Can you honestly say the man was claiming to be a Messiah/god? Surely!!! The guy said what happened to him is like what happened to Jesus Christ on Easter Weekend. You may not agree with the analysis, but to pit him against God is, in my view, not intellectually honest.
Once again, Waanglicana, thanks for fingering the problem. I agree with dkinyuru that we need to move from here towards the future. Lets be talking about that.
Lucas Owako
Levi, may I mention two things in response to your comment:
1. We are not saying that justice is only when Raila wins. One of the things that amazed me is how my Jubilated friends rejoiced when the Supreme Court threw out Raila’s additional evidence. While I understand in such circumstances, getting a win overshadows the pursuit of truth, I find it hypocritical when the same people then turn around and claim the truth has now been established. Secondly, the injustice we mourn here is not only electoral. I have never forgotten how, when Martha Karua was minister for Water, Kirinyaga District got over 50m for water infrastructure, while my home District, Nyando, got 3m. It was quite a debate in Parliament. When I pointed this out to a brother from Kirinyaga, he told me there is no problem because Nyando gets CDF and LATIF. (Of course this is gotten by all Constituencies). You see, what we mourn is years of targeted marginalisation that our people hoped a Raila win would help resolve. They are not asking for reverse margialisation, just equity. One of the places where I traveled during the Easter weekend had a road, connecting to one of the major fishing Bays in Nyanza, earmarked for tarmacking in 2004. In 2005, funds for the road were transferred elsewhere, and the project was only recently revived under the Grand Coalition Government. One of the wazee told me: @If Kibaki tortured us (in terms of resource allocation) , when we voted for him in 2002, what will now become of us?” There are many many stories like these. That is why I said in my comments above: “But if you look, even with very little objectivity, at their history, you would understand why they feel hopeless.”
2. As for Raila’s remarks in Kisumu, how many times do we compare ourselves to Jesus? Can you honestly say the man was claiming to be a Messiah/god? Surely!!! The guy said what happened to him is like what happened to Jesus Christ on Easter Weekend. You may not agree with the analysis, but to pit him against God is, in my view, not intellectually honest.
Once again, Waanglicana, thanks for fingering the problem. I agree with dkinyuru that we need to move from here towards the future. Lets be talking about that.
lilian
what fear from the past do the Os hav when it comes to a futbol game that they must kil each other destroy property whenever they lose or seem to be losing a game or even win? my advice… u r ur own worst enemy and its time u did ur inhouse assessment. nobody wants to sideline u but with that kind of behaviour i wil hav to think hard b4 marking that ballot no matter how much i luv ur candidate. somebody O swore 2 take over my property when Rao bekams president n they actully did.
waanglicana
Dear Lilian, I truly hear your sentiments which I agree that ought to be dealt with. There is though a clear difference between football hooliganism of Gor runs and political support. The soccer holiganism is a world wide phenomenon that need to be studied to know how to arrest it. Living sometime back in east London and seeing supporters of Millwal and west ham clash I thought what we complain here about Gor is a joke, thought hurting all the same. I have heard also landlords complain that their properties were occupied illegally by RAO supporters in the city, I do not support this and I doubt RAO supported that. The police should take action. I would however want to stretch your sight to what happened in the 2013 elections. Have you asked why most of the coast swithe voted for CORD? Why the majority Maasai and interestingly lower Eastern? Not to mention Nyanza and western ? The fear that history would be continued one of favouring certain regions at the expense of others, redistributing resources in skewed way to favour one region while others have no reason the feel Kenyans ….some wanted once and for all not to be squatters in their own country and their ancestral land….this fear we see in others others see it in us !
lilian
what fear from the past do the Os hav when it comes to a futbol game that they must kil each other destroy property whenever they lose or seem to be losing a game or even win? my advice… u r ur own worst enemy and its time u did ur inhouse assessment. nobody wants to sideline u but with that kind of behaviour i wil hav to think hard b4 marking that ballot no matter how much i luv ur candidate. somebody O swore 2 take over my property when Rao bekams president n they actully did.
waanglicana
Dear Lilian, I truly hear your sentiments which I agree that ought to be dealt with. There is though a clear difference between football hooliganism of Gor runs and political support. The soccer holiganism is a world wide phenomenon that need to be studied to know how to arrest it. Living sometime back in east London and seeing supporters of Millwal and west ham clash I thought what we complain here about Gor is a joke, thought hurting all the same. I have heard also landlords complain that their properties were occupied illegally by RAO supporters in the city, I do not support this and I doubt RAO supported that. The police should take action. I would however want to stretch your sight to what happened in the 2013 elections. Have you asked why most of the coast swithe voted for CORD? Why the majority Maasai and interestingly lower Eastern? Not to mention Nyanza and western ? The fear that history would be continued one of favouring certain regions at the expense of others, redistributing resources in skewed way to favour one region while others have no reason the feel Kenyans ….some wanted once and for all not to be squatters in their own country and their ancestral land….this fear we see in others others see it in us !
Patrick Eshuchi mukholi
Francis there is no denying that this is a very sad state of affairs where people take their God given lives at the altar of a political loss. There are, as you point out, many more that are hurting and grieving their political loss and possibly driven to bitterness and hatred by the arrogant taunts of the presumed victors.
Should elections be about winning and losing? Unfortunately in human affairs it is. One of the challenges especially in Africa is the tendency of manipulating ethnic identities for private interest. Ethnic political identity is related to the conflict of loyalties and interests. People win and lose wars, win and lose court cases fairly or unfairly; and is the case in point they win or lose political office. When you are on the losing end it is painful especially if there appearances of unfairness. Miguna is right. This is grievous grieving. Now for Reverend the question is, yes people have come away with almost inconsolable loss and they are grieving, what should ministers of the Gospel on both sides of the political divide do? There is pent up rage. Part of the grieving process, it needs to be managed. Mismanaged or unmanaged produces cases like the ones you have cited.
The Americans in their elections recognise the phenomenon of political grief. Erik Nilsson, who runs sales and marketing for CMDI, the largest Republican Party fund-raising technology platform summarises the traditional Colin Murray Parkes’ five ways in which this political grieving occurs. It starts, as with all grief with denial and isolation, followed by anger and then bargaining followed by depression, and finally acceptance. Others like J William Worden outlines them as Tasks of mourning where people need to work To accept the reality of the loss and the pain of grief, emotionally adjusting to an environment and moving on with life.
In Africa they are summarised by Augustine Nwoye Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, as breaking the bad news and joining in solidarity to weep with the bereaved to a promotion of logical thinking, double description and positive cognitive adaptation. Then finally rehabilitation and reconciliation . Of course as Stroebe and Schut point out in their Dual Process bereavement model the loss never entirely disappears but people remain with feelings of both Loss and Restoration. People move back and forth between the two from the beginning of the loss. Feelings of loss include grief and denial or avoidance of restoration activities that would be geared towards adjusting and doing new things, taking up new roles and identity
What do we normally do when people are grieving? We come in to console and comfort and edify them. We must show them that as unfair as it may seem Jehovah the Author and Sustainer of the Universe has allowed this to happen. There may be a god of this world but ultimately He is in charge. The same way He allowed some disasters to happen to people like Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and abednego and the Jews in General who had the following insight. “He changes the times and seasons, He removes kings and establishes kings, He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” The question is, has the Christian churches and other religions managed to stand above political ethnocentrism and the tension it generates?
I could be accused of one with my nose in this archaic book that our colonial masters used to set us against one another and take our land. I do not need to apologise that I am and will remain a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Missionaries and their piggybacks were children of their times and their human weaknesses and greed do not negate Scripture. As we edify and console the losers, those ministers that are on the so called winning side must also preach and teach the winners, not to taunt their perceived rivals, but reach out to them as fellow citizens of the earthly and divine kingdoms. Can they instead be humble and magnanimous in their victory? Ministers are we awake to what is happening?
Rev. Patrick Mukholi
References:
http://Www.campaignsandelections.com/campaign-insider/342477/the-5-stages-of-political-loss-and-grief/html
Nwoye, Augustine. ‘Memory Healing Processes and Community Intervention in Grief Work in Africa’ in ANZJFT September 2005.
Parkes CM, Studies of Grief in Adult Life, (Penguin, 1975).
Parkes CM, Love and Loss. The Roots of Grief and its Complications (Routledge, 2006).
Stroebe M, Schut H, The dual process model of coping with loss. Paper
presented at the International Workshop on Death, Dying and Bereavement. (Oxford, 1995).
Waruta, D.W. and Kinoti, H, W. (Eds.), Pastoral care in African Christianity. ( Nairobi: Acton Publishers, 2005)
Worden JW, Grief Counselling and Grief Therapy (2nd edition) (Routledge, 1991).
Patrick Eshuchi mukholi
Francis there is no denying that this is a very sad state of affairs where people take their God given lives at the altar of a political loss. There are, as you point out, many more that are hurting and grieving their political loss and possibly driven to bitterness and hatred by the arrogant taunts of the presumed victors.
Should elections be about winning and losing? Unfortunately in human affairs it is. One of the challenges especially in Africa is the tendency of manipulating ethnic identities for private interest. Ethnic political identity is related to the conflict of loyalties and interests. People win and lose wars, win and lose court cases fairly or unfairly; and is the case in point they win or lose political office. When you are on the losing end it is painful especially if there appearances of unfairness. Miguna is right. This is grievous grieving. Now for Reverend the question is, yes people have come away with almost inconsolable loss and they are grieving, what should ministers of the Gospel on both sides of the political divide do? There is pent up rage. Part of the grieving process, it needs to be managed. Mismanaged or unmanaged produces cases like the ones you have cited.
The Americans in their elections recognise the phenomenon of political grief. Erik Nilsson, who runs sales and marketing for CMDI, the largest Republican Party fund-raising technology platform summarises the traditional Colin Murray Parkes’ five ways in which this political grieving occurs. It starts, as with all grief with denial and isolation, followed by anger and then bargaining followed by depression, and finally acceptance. Others like J William Worden outlines them as Tasks of mourning where people need to work To accept the reality of the loss and the pain of grief, emotionally adjusting to an environment and moving on with life.
In Africa they are summarised by Augustine Nwoye Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, as breaking the bad news and joining in solidarity to weep with the bereaved to a promotion of logical thinking, double description and positive cognitive adaptation. Then finally rehabilitation and reconciliation . Of course as Stroebe and Schut point out in their Dual Process bereavement model the loss never entirely disappears but people remain with feelings of both Loss and Restoration. People move back and forth between the two from the beginning of the loss. Feelings of loss include grief and denial or avoidance of restoration activities that would be geared towards adjusting and doing new things, taking up new roles and identity
What do we normally do when people are grieving? We come in to console and comfort and edify them. We must show them that as unfair as it may seem Jehovah the Author and Sustainer of the Universe has allowed this to happen. There may be a god of this world but ultimately He is in charge. The same way He allowed some disasters to happen to people like Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and abednego and the Jews in General who had the following insight. “He changes the times and seasons, He removes kings and establishes kings, He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” The question is, has the Christian churches and other religions managed to stand above political ethnocentrism and the tension it generates?
I could be accused of one with my nose in this archaic book that our colonial masters used to set us against one another and take our land. I do not need to apologise that I am and will remain a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Missionaries and their piggybacks were children of their times and their human weaknesses and greed do not negate Scripture. As we edify and console the losers, those ministers that are on the so called winning side must also preach and teach the winners, not to taunt their perceived rivals, but reach out to them as fellow citizens of the earthly and divine kingdoms. Can they instead be humble and magnanimous in their victory? Ministers are we awake to what is happening?
Rev. Patrick Mukholi
References:
http://Www.campaignsandelections.com/campaign-insider/342477/the-5-stages-of-political-loss-and-grief/html
Nwoye, Augustine. ‘Memory Healing Processes and Community Intervention in Grief Work in Africa’ in ANZJFT September 2005.
Parkes CM, Studies of Grief in Adult Life, (Penguin, 1975).
Parkes CM, Love and Loss. The Roots of Grief and its Complications (Routledge, 2006).
Stroebe M, Schut H, The dual process model of coping with loss. Paper
presented at the International Workshop on Death, Dying and Bereavement. (Oxford, 1995).
Waruta, D.W. and Kinoti, H, W. (Eds.), Pastoral care in African Christianity. ( Nairobi: Acton Publishers, 2005)
Worden JW, Grief Counselling and Grief Therapy (2nd edition) (Routledge, 1991).