Youth leader and Westlands MP aspirant Otieno Mokaya has raised concern over the rising use of insults in Kenya’s political space, warning that it is lowering the standards expected of leaders and shifting focus away from meaningful debate.
Speaking on Thursday, Mokaya stressed that those in leadership, whether in office or not, must show restraint in how they communicate, even when provoked. He said the platform that comes with leadership demands responsibility, urging politicians to avoid dragging personal traits and family matters into public exchanges.
“It doesn’t matter whether you hold a position currently or you held it before, if you’re given a microphone to speak, then it speaks to responsibility,” he said.
He pointed out that leadership comes with public trust, noting that citizens expect leaders to use their words carefully and avoid causing harm regardless of political differences.
Mokaya’s remarks come at a time when political rhetoric in the country has taken a sharp turn, with leaders increasingly engaging in personal attacks during rallies and public appearances.
Recent exchanges involving President William Ruto and his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua have drawn attention, with both sides accused of using harsh language, including name-calling and body-focused remarks.
The tensions have also drawn in opposition figures such as Fred Matiang’i, Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa, with political rallies increasingly shifting from policy discussions to personal criticism.
In one instance, Gachagua mocked the President’s appearance, saying he "has become so thin that even his ears have shrunk” while President Ruto responded with remarks widely interpreted as targeting rivals’ physique, urging some to “go to the gym” and criticising excessive eating.
Such exchanges have since evolved into broader ridicule, with phrases like “someone has eaten too much, they are too fat” becoming part of political messaging, raising concern about the direction of public discourse.
Mokaya said while politics naturally involves competition and provocation, leaders must be aware of the limits of acceptable conduct.
“Then there are people who have made it their business to insult other people, the assumption here is that they have the monopoly of insults,” he said.
He used a personal example to illustrate the need for measured responses, saying that while individuals may feel the urge to respond to attacks, they should do so with control.
“When a dog continuously barks at you, you need to remind the dog that you can communicate as a human being,” he said, adding that while one may respond, it should not descend into unchecked hostility.
He warned that responding with similar insults only fuels further tension and lowers the level of engagement expected from leaders.
“Maybe it’s your turn to bark at them and tell them, I can bark too,” he said, before cautioning that such responses ultimately fall below the standards expected of leadership.
Mokaya also criticised the use of body shaming in political exchanges, describing it as inappropriate and divisive.
“It’s not new for people to call, body shame, but if they do that continuously, then they better have perfect bodies,” he said.
He emphasised that while political rivalry is unavoidable, leaders must draw a line on how far criticism goes.
“Don’t throw stones at people when your house is made of glass,” he added.
He further noted that the rise of digital platforms has amplified the reach of political messages, making it even more important for leaders to be cautious with their words.
“Everybody has a media house in their pocket, so their insults go wider than other presidents,” he said.
According to Mokaya, the difference between past and present leaders is not necessarily in what is said, but in how widely it is shared.
“Only that they're unlucky that everything is recorded,” Mokaya said.
He also warned against involving private individuals in political disputes, saying such actions risk escalating tensions and eroding respect.
“Politics is a competition of popularity, you are allowed to question the other person, but there are boundaries to this thing,” he said.
“When you start importing people that are sacred, then a war begins,” he added.
Mokaya concluded by urging leaders to avoid immature exchanges and focus on maintaining dignity in public discourse, noting that careless remarks can easily provoke unnecessary conflict.
“A childish statement, when an adult makes it to another adult, then it’s supposed to annoy,” he said, calling on leaders to choose their words carefully as political competition intensifies.