Raphael Tuju: Ethnic mobilisation destroyed my political career in Rarieda
By Mustafa Juma, August 25, 2025Former Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju has blamed Kenya’s persistent ethnic mobilisation for undermining democracy and shutting out competent leaders.
Tuju, who recently resigned from the Jubilee party, says the practice cost him his political career in Rarieda Constituency.
Speaking during an interview with a local media station on Monday, August 25, 2025, Tuju recalled his tenure as Rarieda MP, noting that despite what he termed as “a fairly incredible job”, his decision to support then-President Mwai Kibaki cost him re-election because of ethnic politics.
“I can tell you, without any fear of contradiction, the biggest problem we have is ethnic mobilisation in our politics. For example, I think I did a fairly incredible job as a Member of Parliament for Rarieda. I could not survive as MP for Rarieda because of ethnic mobilisation at that time. I dared to support President Mwai Kibaki, who was a Kikuyu, and I happened to be Luo,” Tuju said.
Tuju’s vision
He went ahead to argue that his vision for the country could not work because of the ethnic mobilisation that took place in the country’s political process.
“Whatever ideas I had as to where the country should go and how we should do things could not work because of ethnic mobilisation that took place in our political process,” he said.
He further argued that ethnic-based politics continues to undermine Kenya’s democratic progress, where citizens often vote based on tribal identity rather than issues such as leadership quality, competence, or policy agenda.
“It is unfortunate that ethnic mobilisation is still taking place today, and Kenyans are swallowing it,” he remarked.
Tribal politics
His remarks echo growing calls by a section of former state officials for Kenyans to shift away from personality- and tribe-based politics toward issue-driven campaigns as the country gears up for the 2027 General Election.
For instance, former Chief Justice David Maraga has declared that his political ambitions will not be confined to ethnic boundaries, insisting that his appeal is national rather than regional.
Speaking on Sunday, August 24, 2025, during a night interview with a local TV station, Maraga dismissed suggestions that he should rely on his Kisii and Nyamira roots for political support, saying such ethnic-based mobilisation is at the heart of Kenya’s political dysfunction.
“Some people are saying I should go to Kisii and Nyamira and get the support from them. That is one of the things I am going to fight. This ethnic Balkanisation is what is creating huge problems,” Maraga said.