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Banter zibaki online: Anita Soina urges Kenyans to keep political rivalry off the ground
21st August, 2026 05:20 PM
Global Climate Advocate Anita Soina has urged Kenyans to avoid taking political rivalry beyond online spaces, saying political parties and leaders should be free to campaign in different regions.
Soina said restricting politicians from campaigning outside their home areas could create a culture where leaders only seek support in their own backyards. She called for political differences to remain peaceful despite different backgrounds and experiences.
“We must stop the culture of asking other people not to campaign in other regions!” Anita Soina said on a Facebook post on Friday, August 21, 2026.
The climate advocate said the DCP should be able to campaign in Sugoi, while UDA should be able to campaign in Mathira. She also said Linda Mwananchi should be allowed to campaign in Homa Bay, adding that the same approach should apply to other political parties and leaders.
Keeping politics within peaceful limits
Soina warned that preventing political campaigns in different regions could create what she described as a “Mcheza Kwao” atmosphere. She explained that this could encourage politicians to focus only on their own areas while ignoring other parts of the country.
“Otherwise you will create an atmosphere of ‘Mcheza Kwao’ where you will only campaign in your backyard, and then one day you wake up, and some of you have hurt and abandoned your own people na development and ‘Mcheza Kwao’ then stops working for you,” Anita Soina said.
Soina said such a situation could eventually become difficult to change if leaders realise too late that relying only on their traditional support bases is not enough. She urged Kenyans to recognise the country’s differences while maintaining unity. She said people may have different experiences and backgrounds but still belong to one country.
“It will be too late. Different backgrounds, Different contexts, Different experiences, but one country, One Love,” Anita Soina said.
The climate advocate also called for political banter to remain within limits and not affect how people relate to each other outside online spaces. She said political differences should not prevent Kenyans from living together peacefully.
“Banter zibaki online na zisipite mipaka ground we are one,” Anita Soina said.
Soina ended her message by comparing political differences to the rivalry between football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. She said Kenyans should be able to tolerate each other despite supporting different sides, just as sports supporters do.
