Veteran gospel musician Reuben Kigame has warned that Kenya is slowly drifting back to authoritarian rule, raising concerns about the future of multiparty democracy in the country.

In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, Kigame said hard-won democratic gains were under threat, urging Kenyans to remain alert and united. His remarks have sparked debate online, drawing mixed reactions from politicians and activists over the state of democracy and political freedom in Kenya.

Kigame framed his concerns within Kenya’s long struggle for political pluralism, recalling the difficult years when the country operated as a de facto one-party state. He warned that recent political developments signal a worrying reversal that could undermine the freedoms many Kenyans sacrificed for.

“Dictatorship reloading. Open your eyes wide and get ready for action, folks. We fought hard to repeal Section 2A of the old constitution to entrench multiparty politics in Kenya, but the push towards Kenya becoming a one-party state again is in high gear,” the statement reads in part.

The musician cautioned that failure to act could have serious consequences for ordinary citizens, arguing that history shows how quickly freedoms can be lost when power becomes concentrated.

“Unless we unite and act now, we will be arrested, detained, killed, sent into exile and looted dry,” he wrote.

Alai’s response to Kigame

Kigame’s remarks quickly attracted responses from across the political divide. Among those who reacted was Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai, who questioned the basis of the alarm and pushed back against the idea that Kenya is sliding into a one-party system. Alai argued that the existence of many political parties and differing political expressions shows that multiparty democracy is still alive.

“Are we being blind to reality? Kenya has 91 registered political parties, and someone believes that opposition or multipartyism doesn’t exist unless the Luos or ODM are actively demonstrating against a ruling regime?” he asked.

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