Kipruto Arap Kirwa says Gen Z will decide Kenya’s next president
By Mustafa Juma, December 18, 2025Former Agriculture Minister Kipruto Arap Kirwa has warned that Kenya is dangerously sliding back into divisive tribal politics, arguing that Gen Z voters will ultimately determine the country’s future leadership if they are empowered and fully engaged in national affairs.
Speaking during a televised interview on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Kirwa expressed concern over what he described as the “balkanisation” of the country into political and ethnic regions, a trend he said mirrors the tensions that preceded the 2007 post-election crisis.
“What is worrying me more is the Balkanisation of the country into regions that are seen to be pro this and pro that. We are bringing back tribalism and the situation that we saw in 2007,” he said.
Politicians’ sentiments
He went ahead to say that recent statements by political leaders risk deepening mistrust among communities, creating an unhealthy political environment where some groups are viewed with suspicion based on their perceived political leanings.
“The issues and the statements that leaders have been making are to create a situation where some of the communities are seen with a lot of suspicion. This is very unhealthy,” Kirwa said.
Kirwa urged leaders and citizens alike to reflect on the late Tanzanian founding president Julius Nyerere’s principles, noting that Nyerere opposed four vices he believed undermined nations: religious extremism, tribalism, authoritarianism, and corruption.
“We should think about what Julius Nyerere said. He was against four things: Udini, Ukabila, ubabe, na ufisadi. Those are the four things that if all of us are against, this country can be better,” he said.
Arap Kirwa’s hope in Gen Z
Despite his concerns, Kirwa said he remains optimistic about Kenya’s future, placing his hope in young people, particularly Gen Z, whom he described as the country’s next political kingmakers.
“I have a lot of hope in young people; we need to give them opportunities to design the programme for Kenya from now henceforth. I know the Gen Zs are going to be determiners of who becomes the president in the next general election,” he said.