We mustn't allow selfish leaders to divide us on the basis of tribe

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga's remarks on the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga stoked long-standing tensions between the Luo and Kikuyu. [File, Standard].

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga came under fire last week for making disparaging comments about the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. His comments stoked long-standing tensions between the Luo and Kikuyu ethnic groups, and thousands of people took the bait.

Prior to this, the online space was ablaze with comments from people far removed from the communities of western Kenya, who expressed shock and disdain at how Luo people mourned the icon. These ignorant comments were taken in good stride, with the public working to educate the ignorant on the differences between ethnicities and the need to respect different ways of doing things. After Kahiga’s comments were shared and translated online, however, angry sentiments against Kikuyus filled the online space, and it felt as if Kenya had been thrust back to 2007-8, or even further back, to the unfortunate passing of such heroes as Tom Mboya and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.