Kenyans demand unity as political leaders foment ethnic tensions

President William Ruto hugging his deputy Kithure Kindiki during the swearing ceremony in  Nairobi on November 1, 2024.[Stafford Ondego, Standard]

One of the major reasons Senators overwhelmingly voted to impeach former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was his violation the Constitution and promotion of ethnic divisions, which contradicted his role as a symbol of national unity.

His ouster has been followed by President William  Ruto’s clarion call to all leaders, irrespective of their political alignments, to put their political differences aside and work together for the people.

Gachagua had been on the receiving end owing to not only his call that public offices and appointments be shared out to regions according to their 'shareholding owing to the votes they gave President Ruto but also pushing for the ‘one man, one vote, one shilling’ mantra’. 

His critics at the time argued that all regions should have equal opportunity to prosper, not at the expense of others but as integral part of the nation.

But as the impeachment dust settles, voices are already emerging, appearing to propagate ethnic connotations and calling for nominations of one of their own, which Kenyans have criticized and questioning where to draw the line.

For instance, while Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has been vocal with his sentiments that Kenya belongs to all and condemned tribal bigotry during the impeachment motion in Parliament, he has seemingly been speaking from both sides of the mouth.

On Sunday, Kaluma suggested that the position of Interior CS, which at the moment does not have a substantive holder, after the incumbent, Prof Kithure Kindiki was appointed to the position of Deputy President, should go to someone from his community.

Executive order

Last week, President Ruto appointed Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi as the Interior Cabinet Secretary on an acting capacity.

Ruto made the announcement via an executive order published in a gazette notice on Thursday.

Two days later, Kaluma said that the position should go to a Luo, describing them as greatest human rights defenders.  “Let all communities of Kenya get their due constitutional share of public service appointments. The position of Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of the National Government should go to a Luo. Luos are the greatest defenders of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,” said Kaluma, on his X handle.

Although it is within any Kenyan’s right to push for proper representation in all institutions, it is the manner in which some leaders have demanded for positions of power that has agitated a majority of Kenyans.

Jobs on merit

“Kenya belongs to all. Luos, Kikuyus, Kamba, Mijikenda among others. Let merit be the basis of job opportunities not ‘it’s our time to eat mentality’. It’s ironic that you presented yourself as a nationalist when advocating for Gachagua impeachment. Shame on you,” an X user responded to Kaluma.

Another person posted: “Kaluma I am sorry that being learned is overrated, such utterances can only come from a mouth such as yours. Ethnicity is a tumor that is slowly killing our nation besides whether it’s a Luo or not the interests of the country should come first.”

Said another: “We are not shocked at such utterances coming from Kaluma who thinks he’s the one who should be the CS Interior after your hopes of being the AG went up in smoke. Tribal chauvinists think that one post belongs to an entire community. There’s no person called Luo.”

Ethnic inclusion

Towards Gachagua’s impeachment, Kaluma said Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley, North Eastern, Coast, Nairobi, Mount Kenya, Eastern detest ethnic and regional exclusion as he pushed for inclusivity and fairness.

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) last month raised concern over the social and political climate in the country, saying that what had been unravelling was affecting the social fabric and cohesion of the society.