Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru has hit out at political leaders, accusing former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of tribal politics, saying many of them had built their careers by promoting ethnic divisions.

In a statement shared on his official X account on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Njiru said it was hypocritical for some leaders to brand Gachagua a tribalist while they were the very people who previously thrived on tribal alliances.

“Fellow patriots at heart, those who built their careers on fanning ethnic fears are now branding Rigathi Gachagua a tribalist,” Njiru said.

He added that the same leaders should not now attempt to present themselves as champions of national unity, pointing out that their past actions told a different story.

“It is laughable, if not downright insulting, that the architects of Kenya’s worst tribal alliances suddenly pretend to be arbiters of unity,” he stated.

Njiru’s remarks come at a time when Gachagua has been under criticism from a section of political leaders who accuse him of pushing tribal-based narratives in the country’s politics.

His defence of Gachagua adds another voice to the ongoing national debate about ethnicity and leadership, an issue that has often shaped political campaigns and alliances in Kenya.

Ethnic politics has been a sensitive subject in Kenya’s democratic journey, with past elections showing how deeply tribal mobilisation can influence voter behaviour. Njiru’s remarks are likely to spark further conversation on the role of politicians in either fueling or ending ethnic divisions.

By linking current debates to past political conduct, Njiru sought to remind Kenyans of the history of tribal alliances that have defined the country’s political landscape for decades.

His statement also highlights the tension between leaders’ public postures on unity and their political practices, which he suggested had previously been built on ethnic lines.

As the country gears towards future elections, Njiru’s comments underline how the debate on national cohesion and tribal politics remains a central talking point in Kenya’s political arena.