Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju has cautioned that Kenya is regressing into ethnic-based politics, warning that tribal mobilization remains the biggest stumbling block to national progress.
Speaking on Nation FM, Tuju reflected on his political journey, recalling how tribal allegiances undermined his tenure as Rarieda MP despite what he described as credible performance.
“I think I did a fairly credible job as Rarieda MP, but I could not survive because of ethnic mobilization at that time. I dared to support former President Mwai Kibaki, who was a Kikuyu, while I happened to be Luo. So, whatever ideas I had about where the country should go could not work because of ethnic mobilization,” he said.
Tuju warned that similar dynamics are re-emerging in current politics, despite some progress made during the 2022 general election.
“The biggest challenge we have is ethnic mobilization in our politics. Unfortunately, that mobilization is taking place today and Kenyans are swallowing it,” he said.
According to Tuju, Kenya’s most influential political leaders still derive their power primarily from tribal bases rather than policy-driven agendas.
“If you were to count today the most important political leaders we have, what is the source of their power? It is their tribe. That’s how we mobilize,” he remarked.
