Peter Mbae warns leaders against chest-thumping, urges them to listen to Kenyans
By Sharon Atieno, June 8, 2026The Secretary for Planning and Economic Affairs in the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), Peter Mbae, has criticised sections of the government over what he termed a lack of governance experience, urging leaders to stop “chest-thumping” and instead listen to the concerns being raised by Kenyans amid rising tension in the education sector.
Speaking in an interview on a local station on Monday, June 08, 2026, Mbae questioned the leadership approach within government, arguing that some officials holding key positions lack practical experience in governance and are failing to appreciate the gravity of the situation on the ground.
“So many people in this government have no experience in governance. Can they stop the chest-thumping, relax, and actually listen to the grievances people are raising?” he said.
Governance style under scrutiny
He further cautioned against what he described as overconfidence among some officials, saying leadership required humility, responsiveness, and deeper engagement with citizens rather than public displays of assurance.
Mbae’s remarks come at a time when the Ministry of Education has maintained that schools will continue operating despite reported cases of student unrest in parts of the country.
Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok recently ruled out early closure of schools, insisting that learning is continuing in the vast majority of institutions even as about 80 schools have reportedly been affected by disruptions.
He maintained that the government is on top of the situation and dismissed calls for early closure of schools, saying the academic calendar will remain unchanged.
Education tensions under scrutiny
Speaking on the developments, Bitok said the government is monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures to ensure learning continues without interruption. He added that safety inspections have been intensified following concerns raised after recent incidents in some boarding schools.
However, Mbae argued that the government must go beyond reassurances and address underlying grievances within schools, warning that dismissing concerns could worsen tensions.
“You cannot run a government where 71 schools are closed. Listen to the children and think next time about how you are going to structure the term. Let’s not chest-thump. It is not the time for chest-thumping,” he said.
The remarks add to growing public debate over how the government is handling unrest in learning institutions, with stakeholders calling for more dialogue, responsiveness, and practical solutions to stabilize the education sector.