In a powerful and impassioned press statement delivered on Friday, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah strongly condemned what he described as “a treacherous scheme” by allies of the Kenya Kwanza regime to mischaracterize the nationwide Gen-Z protest movement as an ethnic conspiracy driven by the Kikuyu community.
Speaking to journalists and releasing a five-page written statement titled “The Gen-Z Revolution is not Kikuyu Hegemony”, Senator Omtatah decried the “unhinged and totally misguided” attempts by President William Ruto’s supporters to tribalize what he termed as a legitimate national uprising against corruption, economic hardship, and bad governance.
“It is with a very heavy heart that I take this opportunity to condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the unhinged and totally misguided treacherous scheme by members, bloggers, and supporters of the totally clueless and failed Kenya-Kwanza regime, led by none other than President William Samoei Ruto himself,” said Omtatah.
“They seek to vilify, frighten, and then gag members of the Kikuyu ethnic group from as much as raising a finger to comment, let alone condemn, the ongoing destruction of the Kenyan State by a greedy, ravenous, unpatriotic, and self-serving political elite.”
Senator Omtatah warned that weaponizing ethnicity to shield the government from accountability was dangerous, short-sighted, and unconstitutional.
“I strongly condemn their inflammatory and ethnically divisive remarks in defense of President William Ruto’s failed administration. I reject and condemn their attempts to weaponize ethnicity to shield leaders from accountability,” he added.
He emphasized that the challenges facing the country, skyrocketing unemployment, deepening poverty, institutionalized corruption, and police brutality, are national issues that transcend tribe or region.
“At a time when Kenyans are rightfully demanding accountability, transparency, and good governance, it is unacceptable for leaders to resort to tribal narratives that undermine national unity,” said the Senator.
“Such divisive tribal narratives are a deliberate attempt to deflect from legitimate demands for accountability, good governance, and equitable development under President William Ruto’s administration.”
Calling on political leaders to rise above narrow tribal interests, Omtatah urged them to focus on the pressing grievances of ordinary citizens, especially the youth who have galvanized a spontaneous civic uprising demanding systemic change.
“Leadership demands accountability, not deflection through toxic tribalism. Kenya’s stability and progress depend on leaders who prioritise national cohesion over narrow political interests,” he said.
He firmly rebuffed recent online and political rhetoric that seeks to brand the Gen-Z protest movement as a veiled Kikuyu agenda to topple the President.
“The Gen-Z Revolution is not Kikuyu Hegemony!” Omtatah declared.
“Self-seeking politicians should not distort the Gen-Z revolution as a tribalist putsch. There is no room for resorting to divisive tribal rhetoric to shield President William Ruto’s administration from legitimate calls for good governance, accountability, and transparency.”
Drawing parallels with Kenya’s darkest chapter of ethnic violence, the Senator cautioned against inflammatory speech reminiscent of the 2007–08 post-election period.
“It is deeply regrettable that some leaders have chosen to inflame ethnic tensions to deflect attention from these critical issues. Such actions are not only irresponsible but also dangerous, as they risk plunging our nation into the kind of polarisation and chaos witnessed during the 2007/08 post-election violence,” he warned.
He further affirmed the constitutional rights of all citizens, including the Kikuyu, to speak out against injustice without fear of persecution or ethnic profiling.
“It is unacceptable that the Kikuyu and other ethnic communities from Mt. Kenya are being falsely vilified and ethnically profiled as selfish and self-serving exclusionists, even anarchists and terrorists, out to use unconstitutional means to remove President William Samoei Ruto from power,” Omtatah said.
He reminded the President of the support he received from Mt. Kenya voters in the 2022 general election, urging him not to alienate those who once stood by him.
“Every Kenyan, including members of the Kikuyu community, must enjoy the constitutional right to freedom of expression,” said Omtatah.
“Having reaped heavily from their support at the 2022 General Elections, President Ruto should be the last person to brand and condemn the Kikuyu. They overwhelmingly voted for him without batting an eyelid though he was from a different ethnic community.”
As the Gen-Z-led protests continue to sweep across the country demanding police reforms, economic justice, and transparency, Omtatah’s message was unequivocal: tribal smokescreens will not silence the voice of a nation in pain.
“Kenya’s strength lies in its diversity, and our Constitution guarantees every citizen’s right to equal respect and inclusion, regardless of tribe or region. We reject any attempt to manipulate ethnic identities for political gain or to suppress the legitimate grievances of Kenyans.”
