CS Tuya warns against ethnic divide ahead of 2027 polls
By Wanjira Wachira, July 13, 2026Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya has cautioned political leaders against promoting ethnic divisions, warning against the resurgence of ethnic politics as leaders across the country step up engagements ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a church service at St Joseph HBVM Catholic Church Parish in Narok on Sunday, July 12, 2026, Tuya said leaders have a responsibility to foster national unity and avoid utterances that could undermine peaceful coexistence among communities.
“Ukabila Kenya hatutakubali. Ukabila Kenya hatutakubali, and we will not stand by to watch people divide our country and take our country down the wrong path,” she said.
Using Narok as an example, Tuya said the county reflects peaceful coexistence among Kenya’s diverse communities, adding that leaders should protect such unity instead of exploiting ethnic differences for political gain.
Warning against division
Tuya warned against a return to politics that fuels ethnic animosity, recalling the violence that accompanied politically instigated divisions in the past.
“Wakati ya the 90s, watu waligonganishwa kwa misitari ya kabila na damu ilimwagika. Hatutaki kurudi huko. Wale wanaotaka kuturudisha huko, nawaambia hatutarudi,” she said.
She said leaders should remain mindful of the country’s history and ensure political competition does not come at the expense of national cohesion.
Call for unity
Tuya appealed to Kenyans to continue praying for the country, saying Kenya remains relatively stable despite political and economic challenges facing several countries in the region.
According to the CS, Kenya’s peace and stability should not be taken for granted, and citizens have a collective responsibility to preserve national cohesion.
She also challenged leaders to inspire hope among citizens by pursuing policies that improve livelihoods instead of promoting divisive politics, saying development should remain the country’s priority.
Ntutu echoes peace message
Echoing Tuya’s call for peaceful politics, Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu urged leaders to uphold justice, respect democratic processes and ensure every Kenyan has an opportunity to participate freely in elections.
“Katika masuala ya siasa, tunapaswa kuzingatia mambo ya msingi na kuheshimu haki na utaratibu. Ni muhimu kila mtu apate nafasi ya kushiriki katika uchaguzi kwa amani na kwa ushirikiano. Watu wanapaswa kupiga kura kwa hiari yao na kushirikiana kwa heshima ili kufanikisha malengo ya pamoja. Hatupaswi kuhamasisha migogoro au migawanyiko, bali tuendelee mbele kwa amani na umoja,” Ntutu said.
He urged political leaders to focus on issues affecting wananchi and avoid actions that could divide communities, saying peaceful elections remain essential in strengthening democracy and maintaining public confidence in the country’s electoral process.
Backing government reforms
Tuya also defended the government’s reform programme, saying the Kenya Kwanza administration had chosen to implement difficult policy decisions that previous administrations had not fully executed.
She said reforms in sectors such as health and education had remained on the government’s policy agenda for years but had largely stalled during previous administrations.
“Rais wetu William Ruto ameamua kupita njia ngumu ya kufanya maamuzi magumu ambayo hayajafanywa na marais wengine waliotangulia. Haya mambo ya afya na elimu si mambo mapya; yamekuwa kwa sera kwa miaka mingi lakini hayakutekelezwa,” she said.
Tuya argued that while the reforms have attracted mixed reactions, they are intended to improve service delivery and address long-standing socio-economic challenges affecting Kenyans.
“These hard decisions ndio itatoa wananchi katika lilio la poverty ambayo tumeishi nayo kwa muda mrefu. These hard decisions ndio itapeleka Kenya mahali nchi zingine kama Singapore zimefika,” she said.
With political leaders increasingly taking their messages to churches and other public forums, calls for peaceful coexistence, national unity and issue-based politics are expected to remain at the centre of public discourse as the country moves closer to the 2027 General Election.