PLO Lumumba: Kenya risks sliding into ethnic chaos ahead of 2027 elections
By Mathew Ndungu, October 29, 2025Renowned legal scholar and governance expert Prof. PLO Lumumba has warned that Kenya risks sliding into dangerous ethnic divisions as early political campaigns for the 2027 General Election heighten tribal rhetoric and polarisation.
Speaking on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Lumumba decried the growing political tension, saying it reflects a nation trapped in toxic identity politics.
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“If you read today’s Kenyan newspapers, you might think we have a general election tomorrow, yet the elections will be held in 2027,” he remarked.
He cautioned that the resurgence of tribal discourse threatens national unity and development, urging that politics should be about transformation rather than ethnicity or hate speech.
“The youth must liberate this country from the chains of tribalism. Don’t allow yourselves to be put into tribal cocoons. If you permit poor governance, you will pay the price. Lamentations won’t help,” he said.
Lamenting the deep entrenchment of tribalism in Kenyan society, Lumumba noted that even universities have not been spared.
“Each time a national Cabinet is constituted or judges are appointed, we ask, ‘How many are from our tribe?’ Even when lawyers and doctors graduate, we ask how many are our tribesmen? How primitive can a people be?” he posed.
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He challenged the youth to rise up and shape the future of the nation by demanding accountability, transparency, and good governance.
“We must liberate ourselves from tribal manacles,” he emphasised, calling on young people to reject manipulation by politicians who exploit ethnic sentiments for personal gain.
The scholar also called on Africans to confront neo-colonialism and redefine their destiny in the 21st century.
“African problems cannot be solved by holding international forums. We are holding too many workshops and meetings, but not enough symposiums,” he said, lamenting that Africa’s biggest challenge remains bad leadership despite its rich natural resources.
Lumumba further urged African leaders to embrace national languages and shun tribalism even in public discourse, warning that poor governance continues to expose the continent to external domination.
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He spoke during the Third Annual African Youth Leadership Forum at Mount Kenya University (MKU) in Thika, where hundreds of young people gathered to discuss leadership, governance, and the future of Africa.
Youth participants, led by Leona Chebet and Harrison Njoroge, said the forum transformed their understanding of leadership and nation-building but called for more inclusion in decision-making.
“The youth are looking forward to a better Africa but need better representation in leadership,” said Chebet. Njoroge.
“We need to change our mindsets, to look for new solutions. The youth should get jobs and opportunities for training so that barriers can be overcome,” added Njoroge.