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MUNENE MUTWIRI: We shouldn't let boundaries separate us

They are just imaginary lines that can be revised

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by MUNENE MUTWIRI

Realtime05 October 2021 - 12:50
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In Summary


• Geography has shaped a wide variety of the many aspects of human life over time.

• In a unitary system of governance, like Kenya, the central government is responsible for creating divisions such as counties.

Borders are imposed either by geographic features such as oceans, arbitrary groupings of political entities at different levels of government.

Geography plays a fundamental role in shaping outcomes in any society. Among other geographical elements, boundaries have significant implications. They are not only geographical but also political.

Naturally, geographical features provide the foundation of countries. Where a nation is physically located influences patterns of indigenous lifestyle and neighbouring countries are likely to form part of its international relations.

These circumstances imply that geographical conditions have effects on a country's history and culture and determine many aspects of its people’s sense of self.


The difference between Kenya’s counties and the United Kingdom bodies is that in the UK, the counties are the independent ancient tribes with cultural differentiation who used to rule themselves and were free from the dictates of the central government

Geography shapes various aspects of human life and behaviour over time.

In a unitary system of governance, like Kenya, divisions such as counties as separated by boundaries can be altered to create new or do away with some administrative areas.

In some cases, this can be done through acts of Parliament. However, in the present political dispensation, counties are entrenched in the Constitution as independent authorities. 

Kenya previously had provincial administration structures that kept communities that shared similar cultures and languages in one area separate from others.  They were under the direct control of the central government. 

In a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-party secular state like ours, where we are still struggling to unite all tribes and ethnic groups into a unitary state of Kenya, we should eliminate the concept of boundaries in our communities

In Kenya, where county and constituency boundaries have been drawn mostly along ethnic and clan lines, the boundary concept should worry us.

Most of the counties have been demarcated and given ethnic names according to the native community living in the said area. This has brought about a sense of belonging where a given people feel they have authority.

But a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-party secular state like ours that is still struggling to unite ethnic groups should eliminate intercommunity boundaries.

A country still struggling to find an identity should eliminate all forms of barriers that separate its people.

The intercounty boundaries are just imaginary lines that can be revised at any moment without having a major impact on the socio-economic and political status of any given people, community or region.

As a people, we have sovereignty over the entire territory of Kenya, regardless of our ethnicity, religion, or appearance. Any aspect of our lives that might seem to divide us should be eliminated.

The writer is a Media Analyst 

 

Edited by Kiilu Damaris

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