Nyumba Kumi (The Ten Houses) Initiative

The good neighbours.

            Nyumba Kumi... and we had varied opinions on the “know your neighbour” initiative. But a quick look at my life and I realise it’s time we all rise above our tribal cocoons. I grew up in Tharaka Nithi, the ultimate stronghold. Unlike many of my friends, I was born and raised in one region and hardly interacted with people from other tribes. I had few Kikuyu friends but my world was all “mball and ndoor.”

            Growing up, I realized that there are various perceptions about our tribes. For instance; Kisiis ni warogi ( I have a number of friends and am yet to be bewitched), Luos love money  and great life (I am dating one he is yet to see the end of my whining and wanting of a merc..... and a big mansion, who hates money and good life anyway), Wakikuyu ni wezi (I lived in Meru and we had village thieves we buried one the other day, let there be peace) and the stereotyping goes on and on... then I came to Nairobi and now Merus are hot tempered they kill, I am yet to kill one rat in my life.

            To cut my story short, we are in the arms of our believes and at the mercy of our culture. We have been fed so much lies that we no longer know what to believe. We do not hate people for any reason, we found our folks hating them so we keep the wheel moving. Then one day we wake up to the sad reality that we need all these people that we so much hate for no reason. It’s the post elections violence that opened my eyes and my soul. Hate poisons the soul and its outcome can be dire! We killed neighbours we had been with for decades, torched their houses because they spoke a different language. We forgot the days we fought crimes as a team, our children played together…why we let our strange ways lead our thoughts?

            Nyumba Kumi should be an opportunity to know and appreciate that neighbour who does not speak your language. It’s our chance and only time to learn how to appreciate the diversity in our country. Let’s take time and think of the great opportunity that nyumba kumi is presenting to us. Let us let go our strange ways of hate and teach our hearts to love and appreciate.

An article by Sarah Makena

Co-founder

Ukabila Zi Society