Enoch Tonui

WARS ARE NEVER ABOUT YOU AND I! By Enoch Tonui.-The ravages of war are clear for all to see although varied interests, through massive resources at their disposal, will ensure war continues by constantly stoking its embers. Situations will always be created by varied interests to initiate and run wars even in relatively calm areas, wars that will nourish their agendas. There are incessant armed conflicts in Middle East, Asia, South America and Africa. Kenya has had its share of wars mostly initiated and fueled by political interests and defined along tribal dimensions. We had politically instigated civil strife after general elections of 1992, 1997 and notably the 2007 post-election violence. Armed conflicts, be they interstate or intrastate have unimaginable consequences to not only the civilian population but also active participants and their families. Since early 2016 to date, the war in Yemen has claimed 50, 000 lives with reports currently indicating 2000 deaths a month. In February alone, the war in Iraq claimed 594 civilians. Between 1000 to 1500 were killed in the 2007 post-election violence in Kenya and over 300, 000 displaced. Consequences of war are not deaths only, are they? No. There are a myriad of events caused by war that are devastating to humans which might eventually lead to deaths or long-term negative repercussions. Wars lead to poverty because all economic activities cease. People are unable to go to work in conflict zones. Wars destroys livelihoods (aren’t we well aware of the elite’s intentions to keep majority of Kenyans poor so that they can easily manipulate them?) Conflicts also result in suffering of victims. For instance, wars reduce people to refugees in their locales. Refugee camps are not known for their comfort and perfect hygiene. Refugees are prone to harassment and rape within camps not to mention a million chances of acquiring communicable diseases. Who then benefits from war? Varied interests do reap big from war because they start them to suit or protect their interests. They will even justify the need for war and use all propaganda tools to create an enemy and rally support from civilian population against the “created enemy”. Blindly, the holoi polloi will approve a war against their supposed enemies and devastations of war will rapidly follow. Armed conflicts serve political, economic and religious interests of the propagators (varied interests). Wars are never about you and I or our interests. They are about them; the wielders of power. Kenyans, when you hear the drum beats of war, do not take heed, instead run. I repeat run very fast! Published in my blog: https://nguninews.wordpress.com/2019/03/08/wars-are-never-about-you-and-i/