Political leaders, rather than ethnic diversity itself, are to blame for the tribal divisions that continue to shape Kenya’s elections, political analyst and Advocate of the High Court Kepher Ojijo has said.
Ojijo argued that ethnic identity is a normal part of Kenyan society and should be embraced for its role in preserving culture, heritage and a sense of belonging. He said the problem begins when politicians turn those identities into tools for winning votes, building political alliances and creating divisions among communities.
Speaking during a Radio Generation interview on Friday, Ojijo said most Kenyans interact freely across ethnic lines in their daily lives, with businesses, friendships, marriages and other social ties bringing people from different communities together.
He said this reality is often different from what happens during election periods, when political competition can quickly shift towards ethnic numbers, regional blocs and calculations over which community will control power.
Kenya has more than 40 ethnic communities, with people from different backgrounds living and working together across the country. In towns and cities, businesses are often run by people from different communities, while intermarriages and friendships have also created strong social links across ethnic lines.
Ojijo said these relationships show that ethnicity does not automatically lead to conflict. Instead, he blamed political leaders for repeatedly turning community identity into an electoral weapon rather than convincing voters through their plans and record.
"There is nothing wrong with being associated with your tribe or being proud of where you come from. It is a good thing until you get to politics. Politicians have realised this is the weakness of the people. When they sell ethnicity in terms of political leadership, that is where people draw the line. Yet some of your best friends, the people you do business with or even call in an emergency, are not from your tribe," he said.
According to Ojijo, ethnic politics has become deeply rooted because generations of Kenyans have been exposed to a system where political loyalty is often linked to community identity.
He said the practice is not limited to presidential elections but begins much earlier at the local level. According to him, political attitudes formed in villages, wards and other local contests can later influence how people view national leadership.
"It is not something we only learn at the national level. We practise it in villages and local politics, and by the time people grow up, that attitude has matured into national politics,"
Ojijo said election campaigns have often relied on creating the feeling that communities are competing against one another for access to power and resources.
He said politicians have learned to appeal to people's emotional attachment to their communities, making voters feel that they must support "their own" candidate to avoid being left out if another group takes power.
This approach has also contributed to the rise of regional political kingpins whose influence can shape voting patterns across large areas. Political parties and coalitions are at times formed around ethnic and regional numbers, leaving less room for debate on issues such as governance, accountability, healthcare, education and the economy.
"What often unites people is not necessarily the language they speak or where they come from. It is the adversity they feel or the perception that there is a 'them versus us' situation. That is the narrative politicians have used for the longest time," he said.
Ojijo traced the growth of ethnic politics to the period after independence, saying its influence has continued across generations. He argued that historical grievances, regional inequalities and political mobilisation have helped keep the practice alive.
However, he said Kenya still has an opportunity to move towards a political culture where voters judge leaders by their ideas, policies and performance.
Ojijo pointed to younger Kenyans, particularly Gen Z, as a possible force for change, noting their growing demand for accountability, transparency and better governance.
He said recent youth-led civic movements have shown that Kenyans can come together around shared economic and governance concerns without ethnicity being the main basis for mobilisation.
Ojijo said breaking the hold of ethnic politics will require continued civic education, stronger democratic institutions and political leaders who are ready to seek votes through policies and performance rather than tribal affiliations.