Interpreting Embu-Mbeere Politics through the lens of Sibling Rivalry, 1906–2021

Abstract

Before the advent of colonialism, ethnicity in Africa was fluid and negotiable. However, the colonial state labelled and concretised the various ethnic groups, highlighting their divergences rather than convergences. In the then Embu Division, the Embu and Mbeere communities with perceived commonalities and a shared past, fell into the trap of colonial stereotyping of “progressive Embu” and “good Mbeere versus bad Embu”, which the two ethnic groups held with a certain degree of animosity. Since the establishment of colonialism in the region in 1906, the two “siblings” have tended to emphasise their distinctiveness, which was initially propelled by the colonial policy of “divide-and-rule” but was later amplified by local “big men”. Consequently, a complex web of emotions arose in interpersonal contexts, creating jealousy and rivalry among siblings which were cheered on by a “beloved parent"—the colonial government. Similarly, socio-economic development in contemporary Embu County is influenced by ethnicity, though Kenyan leaders have routinely treated ethnicity as a hindrance to modernity. Ethnic competition has continued in the devolved government of Embu County, which was uniquely the first to call for the impeachment of its governor. This article draws from a PhD project conducted between 2019 and 2021 using archival data and involving 59 informants. The research employed the transactional model of sibling jealousy theory to analyse how the Embu and Mbeere construct and deconstruct each other through selective memories and histories, influencing their claims and access to resources. The implications of these dynamics are particularly evident in the contested politics and socio-economic transactions within Embu County.