Politics of ethnic quotas a recipe for national conflict — Kituyi

Former UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi has warned over politics of ethnic quotas in the country terming it as dangerous talk and a recipe for national strife.

Kituyi said that visionary leadership, especially during times of transition, requires the toning down of utterances that divide Kenyans.

"When we start talking about rewarding numbers by public appointments and promises of advantage, we are not saying things that endear us to Kenyans, however popular they may be within our own communities," he said.

The presidential hopeful during an interview Friday said for the last 58 years, Kenyans have had a president or a vice-president who is from the Kikuyu community.

"...and there is no moment when Luhyas have said, we are such a percentage of the population of Kenya and thus we want so many positions in government and in the cabinet," he said.

"We have not made any demand on the Presidency of Uhuru Kenyatta despite our low representation in the cabinet."

Kituyi said it is useful that the community that is largest and has been the principal beneficiary of government services should be humble in the prominence of transition and spread the message of inclusivity.

"I urge my friends from every part of the country and not just politicians from the Mt Kenya region who have been saying these things, let us not start an ethnic competition for quotas and promises of jobs during the transition...It does not help our country," he said.

Kituyi, alongside National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana and Narc Kenya Party leader Martha Karua earlier this month unveiled what they termed as a 'Dream Team' which will be in the race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta after the 2022 general elections.

The team have called for “an urgent conversation with other like-minded leaders on the change that the country needs ahead of next year’s general election”, as a matter of national interest.