As an outsider to Africa in general and Kenya specifically, my opinion is not biased from Kikuyu or the Kalenjin point of view. I have experienced hate firsthand, thus giving my opinion validity to this article. It is amazing that everywhere else in the world, pigmentation is the key to bigotry and hate except here.

In America, the official law states you can live anywhere you want. I gave a friend/co-worker a ride home from an after work party. It was a hot 1973 July summer night, late enough to realize as my friend said, "just drop me off, and don't stop for anything". Granted I was naive at the time and full of ethnic/racial equality. Realizing I needed gas, I stopped at the closest gas station. Across the street, a group of young men were milling around. I looked in the direction of the gas station attendant and he seemed agitated. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by men who knew exactly what to do. I looked for friendly faces and could not place any. The leader said, "youre in the wrong place, white boy". Exaggerating the word "white." I tried to speak, my mouth dry as a desert. They closed in as if they could smell my fear. To fight was silly, unknown terrain, weaponry unknown, no chance of backup. I whistled to clear my lungs and they laughed. The leader sensed the foreboding of death and destruction and allowed me to leave with the hauntingly remark, "you don't belong here, leave now and don't comeback".

It has been 45 years since 1963, when Kenyan President Jomo Kenyatta settled his Kikuyu tribal members in an area already developed by Kalenjin and Luo tribes. His tribe prospered and as expected, the others didn't do as well. I am surprised it took over 45 years for violence to erupt over prosperity, but to direct it at mixed intertribal marriages, seem odd unless you look deeper. Each tribe is staking their land and natural resources for the real battle to come. Mixed marriages make it harder to teach their youth that the other tribe is less human. By killing off the mates and shunning the spouses, it sends a unmistakable mark on the youth, do not cross the line. I suspect the shunning will end when they need their children for the fight ahead. It will be a blood bath until the stronger/well armed tribes prevail.

As I feared that hot night in 1973, these people are not getting off with a warning. Right now, tribal members cannot see the trees from the forest. Outsider organizations will be bullied into providing supplies to specific tribes. The military and police will be tested for loyalty and either killed or jailed if found otherwise. Civil courts and law is out the window for tribal power rules. My prayers go out to everyone involved and I pray that the United Nations and the African Union will bring peace back to Kenya, a country of 38 million people, more than just tribal members.

Learn more about this author, Ron Molotsky.
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