Senator Okiya Omtatah has requested Kenyans to move away from engaging in old shameful and divisive tribal politics.

In a statement released on Monday, July 22, 2024, Omtatah strongly criticized any efforts to resurrect tribal divisions, labelling such actions as regressive and detrimental to the nation’s unity.

Omtatah urged all generations to unite under a common purpose, stressing the need to combat corruption and nepotism that have plagued the country in the past.

“I condemn in the strongest terms possible attempts by those cannons of the past, who are trying to revive the tribal narratives of the shameful old political order where tribes and regions were falsely pitted against one another for political expediency, in the self-service of a select elite.”

“We must never go back to days when the obsession with cronyism, tribal and regional identity, and not merit, was the overriding consideration in running public affairs,” Omatatah remarked.

Tribal identities

Omtatah further stressed that Gen Z were in unison for a collective action underscoring the importance of transcending tribal loyalties and working towards a shared vision of progress and equality for all Kenyans.

“The demand by the Gen-Zs for accountability is not about one community taking over State power. When they demand that appointments must be based on merit it’s not that they want jobs to be given to people from any particular community,” Omtatah noted.

The Senator commended the younger generation, particularly Gen Z, for their peaceful protests and their refusal to be defined by tribal affiliations. 

“I take this opportunity to yet again congratulate the tribeless Gen-z revolutionaries who, in their courage and determination have slayed the monster of impunity, tribalism, regionalism and general political decay that have to date not only defined us but also denied us the real promise of this great nation – the Republic of Kenya,” Omtatah stated.

Press Statement:

STOP DRAGGING KENYA BACKWARDS TO THE OLD SHAMEFUL POLITICAL ORDER WITH TRIBAL NARRATIVES. pic.twitter.com/yWv0AxaGts

— Okiya Omtatah Okoiti (@OkiyaOmtatah) July 22, 2024

Tribeless Gen Zs

Furthermore, Omtatah praised the outspokenness of Gen Z, noting their courage in addressing issues even in the strongholds of top government officials. 

“We must for posterity celebrate the fact that for the very first time, public leaders have been held accountable to our national values, irrespective of where they come from,” he added.

The senator expressed dismay at insinuations that external influences were behind the youth’s demands for accountability from current leaders.

According to Omtatah, he emphasized that it was disrespectful to undermine the agency and determination of Kenyan youth by attributing their actions to foreign agendas. 

“It is a total insult to our gallant youth to claim that they were inspired and driven in their patriotic endeavour by foreigners. Or that the Gen-Z is in the service of one ‘dominant’ tribe or powerful scheming to capture State power,” Omtatah remarked. 

“We must celebrate the fact that there have been demonstrations in areas such as Eldoret and Nyeri, the political backyards of the President and the Deputy President, respectively. Going forward, those in authority must be held to account, their communities notwithstanding.”