Mungatana urges Tana River residents to reject divisive politicians
By Nancy Marende, August 24, 2025Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana has called on residents to reject leaders promoting ethnic-based politics, warning that such divisions threaten peace and development in the county.
Speaking on Sunday, August 24, 2025, in Tana River, Mungatana criticised politicians who are moving across the region, urging residents to unite only two communities, the Orma and the Wardhei, to form a government.
“Wako watu wengine wanasimama, kazi yao ni kutembea kila mahali wakisema ati tuchukue kabila mbili tutengeneze serikali. Ni serikali ya wapi hiyo? Hiyo ni serikali ya ndoto za mchana. Ni watu wasio na agenda. Yaani, unatembea Tana River mzima. Kuongea mambo ya kabila mbili.”
Loosely interpreted as:
“There are people vying, and their work is to move around telling people to pick two tribes to form a government. Which government is that? That’s a government full of delusion. Those are people without an agenda. You cannot be moving around every corner of Tana River talking about two tribes,” he stated.
The Senator urged residents to focus on issues that unite them rather than ethnic affiliations, noting that leadership should be based on inclusivity and shared development.
Additionally, former Governor Hussein Dado echoed Mungatana’s sentiments, stressing that tribalism begins from the home when leaders start prioritising clans and ethnic groups over unity.
“Mkabila ni mtu mbaya. Akianza anabagua ndani ya nyumba yake, akitoka huko anasema ‘clan yangu’, ‘constituency yangu’, ‘kabila yangu’. Hiyo siyo njia ya kuleta maendeleo.”
Loosely interpreted as
“A tribalist is a bad person. When they start divisions in their home, they start with my clan, my tribe, my constituency. That is not the way to bring development,” he added.
Banticha’s call
On the other hand, Isiolo County Assembly Speaker Abdullahi Banticha also rallied Tana River communities to embrace cohesion and power-sharing among all groups living in the region.
“Nyinyi kama jamii ya Tana River mshikane na jamii mnaoishi pamoja. Kwa sababu viti vya siasa ni vingi—kuna senator, gavana, women rep na MCA. Watu wakikaa na wakigawana serikali vizuri, kila mtu atapata nafasi.”
“You, as the people of Tana River, should unite and live in harmony because there are many political seats. There is a seat for senator, governor, woman representative, and even the MCA seat. When people come together to form a government, everyone will secure a seat,” he advised.
The leaders jointly urged residents to stand against divisive politics and instead strengthen bonds across communities to ensure peace, inclusivity, and equitable representation in Tana River County.