The divisive politics of tribalism could again be at the centre of the 2027 election campaigns, with some leaders already beating the drums barely three years before the polls.
This is despite several promises and attempts to end the tribal card that has been linked to the division and marginalisation of certain communities since independence.
President William Ruto has often pledged to end the “bad politics” that has excluded many Kenyans from the nation’s leadership.
In October, the President engineered the removal of his then-deputy Rigathi Gachagua for allegedly propagating tribal politics.
“Those who are only interested in dividing Kenyans along tribal lines and spreading hatred should go home,” the President said last month. My government has no business with those who worship tribalism, hatred, and division.”
However, as the head of state talked tough against tribalism, his close allies – including politicians and Cabinet Secretaries – appeared to be reading from a different script.
Besides, some leaders are forming ethnic and tribal groupings to ringfence their communities ahead of the next polls.
Last month, Gikuyu, Embu and Meru Association (Gema) roped in the Kamba community.
Insiders say the development came after months of Gachagua and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s push to solidify the ethnic bloc.
The two are plotting a political deal and are keen to use their ethnic vote blocks as stepping stones to the presidency.
Ruto and opposition chief Raila Odinga have struck a political deal in what observers say is pegged on tribal arithmetic to win the next election.
Political analyst Javas Bigambo ruled out the possibility of eliminating tribalism in Kenyan politics.
Bigambo said that tribalism is deeply entrenched to the extent that it could transcend generations.
“How Kenyan politics is arranged is inevitably tribal. It is not something that can be swept out of space by mere statements by the President, Raila, or Uhuru,” he said.
He added that the organisation of politics still begins with tribal organisation where the bigwigs ringfence their communities.
Further, the lack of proper ideologies in political parties and coalitions has created room for tribal politics to thrive.
Political observer Martin Andati said that while the country has been captured by tribal politics for decades, the same appears to be fading with the emergence of the youthful votes of the Gen Z.
“We may not witness the extent of tribalism in the past in the next elections because 70 per cent of the population is not beholden to the tribal arrangement. Tribalism may play a role in 2027 but that may not be the case in 2032,” Andati said.
However, he said that while the President is talking tough on tribal politics, his political appointments speak to a person practising the vice.
“You cannot condemn Rigathi for tribalism but your political appointments and resource allocation show you are practising it,” he added.
Barely a fortnight ago, Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen triggered a debate after he claimed the ongoing mass criticism of the President was because of his tribe.
Murkomen slammed the church, media, and government critics accusing them of being tribal in their evaluation of the head of state’s performance.
He took issue with why Ruto is constantly only being compared to Kenya’s second President Daniel Arap Moi, who was also from the Kalenjin community, and not other past presidents like Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta who were all Kikuyus.
In a rather similar fashion, Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi took issue with the government critics, claiming they were doing so because ‘Luos’ had been accommodated.
“Now that Luo people are finding their feet in government, the regime is bad. Even entities including NGOs, civil societies, and the church, including NCCK (National Council of Churches of Kenya), are finding their voices. This is suddenly a conspiracy, and we can see through it,” Wandayi said.
“It is not a crime for a Luo to be in the government. We cannot accept it. Every time Luos are out protesting in the streets, the government is deemed good. We are not fools.”
Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo called for a national conversation around the growing discord against the President after his deal with Raila.
According to the MP, the churches turned against former President Kenyatta following his handshake with the then-ODM leader.
“Is it that the churches don’t like Raila or the churches don’t like Luos? This is a conversation we must have as a country,” Odhiambo said.
Since the advent of multi-party democracy, tribal politics has dominated the Kenyan space with politicians from ‘big tribes’ coming together to win elections.
In the 2013 and 2017 elections, Uhuru and Ruto formed an alliance that brought together their Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities.
In 2022, Ruto largely relied on the Kikuyu and Kalenjin votes to win the polls.
This was the case with opposition leaders Raila and Musyoka who brought together Luo and Kamba communities, respectively, in an attempt to beat the rivals.
Recently, a Luo priest, in a viral clip, claimed that Luos were being trapped to carry President Ruto’s baggage.
“You saw us celebrate the cancellation of Adani deals. But this Adani deal, we had sanitised it. Didn’t Raila say Adani is good? Opiyo Wandayi spoke for three hours before Ruto cancelled it and he defended it as if he was the person who initiated it,” the preacher said.
“Could it be that Ruto is trapping Baba and Opiyo? Who bewitched us? If you are not careful, you will carry the burden. If you can reach those people, please tell them to go slow.”
Recently, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, a close ally of the President, slammed Nyeri Catholic Archbishop Anthony Muheria for criticising Ruto’s administration.
Sudi claimed that Muheria was entertaining tribal politics in his attacks.
“It is dumbfounding to see Archbishop Anthony Muheria preaching the gospel on the one hand and fanning tribalism on the other hand,” he said.
According to the MP, Muheria backed the previous regime – of Uhuru (a Kikuyu) – even when it was clear it had failed Kenyans.
