What Donald Kipkorir Has Said About Gachagua’s Remarks

Senior lawyer Donald Kipkorir has defended Rigathi Gachagua against criticism over his efforts to consolidate the Kikuyu community, arguing that building tribal coalitions is how elections work everywhere in the world.

According to Kipkorir, leaders who aspire to national office in Kenya, the United States, Israel or South Africa all build tribal coalitions. He said they first consolidate their own communities and then reach out to others. He therefore described criticism of Gachagua for rallying the Kikuyu as deceptive falsehood and hypocrisy.

He challenged critics to name a single Kenyan leader who is not consolidating his own tribe first. In his view, it cannot be called tribalism when Kikuyu are mobilised but not when Kalenjin, Luo, Luhya, Kisii and Kamba leaders do the same. He added that tribes are what make nations, and that without them nations could not exist.

Kipkorir drew a line between two kinds of tribal politics. What is wrong, he said, is negative tribalism that dehumanises other communities. Consolidating one’s own people, on the other hand, does not violate the law.

His remarks come as Gachagua faces growing criticism over his statements on Mt. Kenya and the opposition. Fred Matiang’i has said the future of the country should not be decided through ethnic balkanisation, while Moses Kuria and Miguna Miguna have accused Gachagua of using fear and tribal appeals. Gachagua has not responded to those critics.

Kipkorir’s defence will draw sharp reactions. Supporters will say he has stated an honest reality of Kenyan politics, while critics will argue that normalising ethnic mobilisation deepens divisions and works against national unity.

https://x.com/DonaldBKipkorir/status/2117186761289793746

Therapist feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com