Kenyan politics is a hotbed for violence and during every election cycle, lives are lost due to disagreements arising from differing political views. The worst instance occurred after the 2007 elections, which led to the deaths of approximately 2,000 people and the displacement of up to 600,000 people, most of them women and children.
Ethnic-based violence has a long and troubling history in the country, fueled by poverty and inequality. Successive Kenyan administrations have pitted the majority Kikuyu and Kalenjin ethnic groups—favored economically and politically—against smaller ethnic groups, including the Luhya, Luo, Kamba, Kisii, Mijikenda and others.
Ethnicity continues to be the primary axis on which political elites mobilize constituencies. Elections are often won based on ethnic majorities and alliances rather than performance or a unifying national vision. The violence following the December 2007 election was not the first of its kind; similar bloodshed and displacement occurred in the 1992 and 1997 elections. These enduring tensions and challenges resurface with every general election, leading to violence and loss of lives.
Many Kenyans now view their political leaders as modern-day colonizers only obsessed with power and control but offering little to the community beyond empty promises. While poverty remains widespread, the majority of citizens continue to struggle despite pledges of development and change.
After the 2007–2008 post-election violence, the dominant ethnic groups in government devised a new strategy to calm the masses. They co-opted the opposition, which primarily represents minority ethnic communities, into power-sharing agreements. However, this maneuver may soon prove ineffective.
The opposition, largely led by Raila Odinga, faces a looming leadership vacuum as he grows older. With an estimated 20–25 years left which is equivalent to about four general elections, and with no clear successor from his family or party, the political landscape could be thrown into turmoil. If unaddressed, this instability might push Kenya toward the fate of countries like Somalia or Sudan.
Years of pain and suffering have hardened the people, making them unafraid to demand their rights through protests. For many Kenyans, taking to the streets has become the norm. Arming the police to suppress dissent will not solve the problem. This approach failed during colonial times and will only fuel people's anger, giving them an enemy to fight, worsening the crisis further.
The Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities have held power since Kenya gained independence, yet they have failed to lift the country out of third-world status or transform it into a global economic force. Instead of acknowledging their shortcomings and allowing other communities to lead, they continue to feel entitled to rule which is unpatriotic.
In order to prevent further instability, Kenya’s political system must change to include everyone. Tribalism must become a thing of the past, and leaders who promote it should be stopped. Elections should be based on merit, prioritizing leaders with a proven ability to bring development and progress to the nation.
The country needs a leader from a minority ethnic group to foster unity and demonstrate inclusivity, similar to how Americans did with Obama. Such leadership could make all Kenyans feel they belong and inspire patriotism. Without this shift, the cycle of suffering and division will not only continue but escalate into even greater chaos and destruction.