NPA CALLS Kenyans ‘TO UNITE THE COUNTRY AHEAD OF INTENSE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS

Parents’ body wants a Kenyan ancestry programme to promote national cohesion, preserve family histories and challenge ethnic stereotypes

By Jeff Kizzilah Digital Editor 

The National Parents Association (NPA) is calling for the development of a Kenyan version of the internationally recognised ancestry programme “Who Do You Think You Are?” as a national initiative to help Kenyans rediscover their roots, appreciate the country’s diversity and strengthen national unity.

NPA National Chairman Mr. Silas David Obuhatsa says Kenya needs innovative approaches to remind citizens that political competition should never be allowed to destroy the families, friendships, communities and social relationships that hold the country together.

Tentatively titled “Who Do Kenyans Think They Are?”, the proposed programme would follow prominent Kenyans and ordinary families as they explore their ancestry, migration stories, traditions, cultures and contributions to the development of Kenya.

According to the NPA, such stories would demonstrate that while Kenya’s communities are diverse, their histories are deeply interconnected.

Kenyans have moved across counties, traded with one another, attended the same schools, built businesses, formed families and worked together in developing the country.

FROM ‘US AND THEM’ TO ‘WE ARE KENYANS’

The NPA says political campaigns can sometimes create an environment where Kenyans begin viewing one another primarily through ethnic, regional or political identities.

Mr. Obuhatsa says parents have a critical role in teaching children that supporting a particular political candidate does not make another Kenyan an enemy.

“Political parties and candidates come and go, but our families, communities and country remain,” the NPA says.

The proposed initiative would encourage Kenyans to ask:

• Who are we?
• Where did our families come from?
• What have our communities contributed to Kenya?
• What have we learnt from one another?
• What kind of country are we going to leave for our children?

PARENTS AND SCHOOLS TO LEAD HERITAGE PROJECTS

The NPA says the initiative should go beyond television and become a broader National Heritage, Parenting and Unity Initiative involving parents, schools, historians, cultural institutions, broadcasters, communities and government.

Schools could establish “Who Do Kenyans Think They Are?” Heritage Projects, allowing learners to interview their parents and grandparents about their family histories.

Learners could document their family origins and migration stories, traditional names and their meanings, languages, cultural practices, traditional foods, music and celebrations, family occupations, historical experiences and contributions to their communities.

They could also explore relationships and experiences involving members of other Kenyan communities.

The NPA says such activities would help children understand that being proud of one’s community should never require disrespecting another.

NATIONAL UNITY MUST START AT HOME

The parents’ body believes national cohesion must begin in homes and be strengthened in schools.

Parents, teachers and community leaders should teach children that political differences are normal in a democracy, but hatred, tribal discrimination, violence and intolerance should never be accepted.

The NPA further urges young Kenyans to take pride in their respective communities while embracing their shared identity and responsibilities as citizens of Kenya.

‘ELECTIONS SHOULD NOT DIVIDE FAMILIES’

As Kenya approaches periods of intense political campaigning, Mr. Obuhatsa is calling on political leaders, parents, teachers, religious leaders, media houses and community leaders to exercise responsibility in the messages they communicate to the public, particularly children and young people.

The NPA warns that political campaigns should never turn neighbours against neighbours, parents against children, communities against communities or young Kenyans against one another.

The association emphasizes:

We can disagree politically without becoming enemies.
We can compete politically without destroying our country.
We can celebrate our communities while respecting every other Kenyan community.

NPA CALLS FOR NATIONAL CONVERSATION

The NPA is calling on the Ministry of Education, the ministry responsible for Culture and Heritage, broadcasters, historians, universities, parents, schools, development partners and the media to explore the development of the proposed programme and accompanying school and community activities.

The initiative could help:

1. Promote national cohesion;
2. Strengthen positive parenting;
3. Preserve family and cultural histories;
4. Encourage inter-community understanding;
5. Promote responsible citizenship;
6. Support social-emotional learning among children;
7. Reduce ethnic stereotypes and prejudice; and
8. Encourage young people to view diversity as a national strength.

The NPA maintains that national unity cannot be achieved through political speeches alone, but must be built through the everyday experiences of families, schools and communities.

NPA’S MESSAGE TO KENYANS

The National Parents Association says its message is simple:

Know your roots. Respect other people’s roots. Learn our shared history. Protect our common future.

Kenya does not need to erase its diversity to become united.

Our communities are different. Our histories are interconnected. Our future is shared.

The NPA therefore invites Kenyans to begin a national conversation around one powerful question:

WHO DO KENYANS THINK THEY ARE?

Perhaps the answer is simple:

We are many communities, many cultures and many histories — but we are one Kenya.

 

NPA CALLS FOR ‘WHO DO KENYANS THINK THEY ARE?’ TO UNITE THE COUNTRY AHEAD OF INTENSE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS

 

Parents’ body wants a Kenyan ancestry programme to promote national cohesion, preserve family histories and challenge ethnic stereotypes

 

NAIROBI, KENYA — The National Parents Association (NPA) is calling for the development of a Kenyan version of the internationally recognised ancestry programme “Who Do You Think You Are?” as a national initiative to help Kenyans rediscover their roots, appreciate the country’s diversity and strengthen national unity.

 

NPA National Chairman Mr. Silas David Obuhatsa says Kenya needs innovative approaches to remind citizens that political competition should never be allowed to destroy the families, friendships, communities and social relationships that hold the country together.

 

Tentatively titled “Who Do Kenyans Think They Are?”, the proposed programme would follow prominent Kenyans and ordinary families as they explore their ancestry, migration stories, traditions, cultures and contributions to the development of Kenya.

 

According to the NPA, such stories would demonstrate that while Kenya’s communities are diverse, their histories are deeply interconnected.

 

Kenyans have moved across counties, traded with one another, attended the same schools, built businesses, formed families and worked together in developing the country.

 

FROM ‘US AND THEM’ TO ‘WE ARE KENYANS’

 

The NPA says political campaigns can sometimes create an environment where Kenyans begin viewing one another primarily through ethnic, regional or political identities.

 

Mr. Obuhatsa says parents have a critical role in teaching children that supporting a particular political candidate does not make another Kenyan an enemy.

 

“Political parties and candidates come and go, but our families, communities and country remain,” the NPA says.

 

The proposed initiative would encourage Kenyans to ask:

 

– Who are we?

– Where did our families come from?

– What have our communities contributed to Kenya?

– What have we learnt from one another?

– What kind of country are we going to leave for our children?

 

PARENTS AND SCHOOLS TO LEAD HERITAGE PROJECTS

 

The NPA says the initiative should go beyond television and become a broader National Heritage, Parenting and Unity Initiative involving parents, schools, historians, cultural institutions, broadcasters, communities and government.

 

Schools could establish “Who Do Kenyans Think They Are?” Heritage Projects, allowing learners to interview their parents and grandparents about their family histories.

 

Learners could document their family origins and migration stories, traditional names and their meanings, languages, cultural practices, traditional foods, music and celebrations, family occupations, historical experiences and contributions to their communities.

 

They could also explore relationships and experiences involving members of other Kenyan communities.

 

The NPA says such activities would help children understand that being proud of one’s community should never require disrespecting another.

 

NATIONAL UNITY MUST START AT HOME

 

The parents’ body believes national cohesion must begin in homes and be strengthened in schools.

 

Parents, teachers and community leaders should teach children that political differences are normal in a democracy, but hatred, tribal discrimination, violence and intolerance should never be accepted.

 

The NPA further urges young Kenyans to take pride in their respective communities while embracing their shared identity and responsibilities as citizens of Kenya.

 

‘ELECTIONS SHOULD NOT DIVIDE FAMILIES’

 

As Kenya approaches periods of intense political campaigning, Mr. Obuhatsa is calling on political leaders, parents, teachers, religious leaders, media houses and community leaders to exercise responsibility in the messages they communicate to the public, particularly children and young people.

 

The NPA warns that political campaigns should never turn neighbours against neighbours, parents against children, communities against communities or young Kenyans against one another.

 

The association emphasizes:

 

We can disagree politically without becoming enemies.

We can compete politically without destroying our country.

We can celebrate our communities while respecting every other Kenyan community.

 

NPA CALLS FOR NATIONAL CONVERSATION

 

The NPA is calling on the Ministry of Education, the ministry responsible for Culture and Heritage, broadcasters, historians, universities, parents, schools, development partners and the media to explore the development of the proposed programme and accompanying school and community activities.

 

The initiative could help:

 

1. Promote national cohesion;

2. Strengthen positive parenting;

3. Preserve family and cultural histories;

4. Encourage inter-community understanding;

5. Promote responsible citizenship;

6. Support social-emotional learning among children;

7. Reduce ethnic stereotypes and prejudice; and

8. Encourage young people to view diversity as a national strength.

 

The NPA maintains that national unity cannot be achieved through political speeches alone, but must be built through the everyday experiences of families, schools and communities.

 

NPA’S MESSAGE TO KENYANS

 

The National Parents Association says its message is simple:

 

Know your roots. Respect other people’s roots. Learn our shared history. Protect our common future.

 

Kenya does not need to erase its diversity to become united.

 

Our communities are different. Our histories are interconnected. Our future is shared.

 

The NPA therefore invites Kenyans to begin a national conversation around one powerful question:

 

WHO DO KENYANS THINK THEY ARE?

 

Perhaps the answer is simple:

 

We are many communities, many cultures and many histories — but we are one Kenya.