Biggest problem with our politics is ethnic mobilisation – Raphael Tuju

Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju/FILE

Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju has warned that Kenya is sliding back into ethnic politics, saying tribal mobilization remains the biggest obstacle to national progress.

Speaking about his own political journey, Tuju recalled his time as Rarieda Member of Parliament, where he says tribal loyalties undermined his work despite what he describes 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 on Nation FM.

He warned that the same trend is re-emerging in today’s politics, despite some progress seen during the 2022 elections.

“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.

Tuju said Kenya’s most powerful political leaders still draw their influence primarily from their tribes rather than their policies or vision.

“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 added.

While acknowledging that tribalism played a smaller role in the 2022 polls compared to previous years, Tuju cautioned that the country is once again headed in the wrong direction.

“We are back to ethnic mobilization right now. As a country, we ought to be honest enough to realize we are on that path,” he warned.

The former CS’s remarks come a few days after he announced his resignation from the Jubilee Party last week.

In his resignation, Tuju said in a letter addressed to former President Uhuru Kenyatta, that while he looks forward to work with him in future, as things stand, he did not see how he added value to the party.

“I still look forward to working with you in future. However, at the present time, I see no more value that I can add to the Jubilee Party. I therefore tender my resignation.

“Please accept my best wishes for your well-being and for the Party,” Tuju said.

He added that he still believes Kenyans can unite to confront unemployment and poverty rather than fight along tribal lines.