Olekina Questions Kenya’s National Unity Amid Tribal Politics Debate

Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has stirred renewed national debate after questioning whether genuine national unity can be achieved in a political environment he argues is heavily influenced by ethnic considerations.

In a post shared on X on Thursday, January 15, 2026, the senator said equality among Kenya’s communities remains difficult to realise where political power and decision-making are perceived to be concentrated within a few groups. 

He suggested that appeals to national unity often overlook underlying inequalities that continue to shape political and social outcomes.

“If Kenya runs on tribal politics, then let’s be honest: Maasai must walk with Maasai, Luo with Luo, Kikuyu with Kikuyu, and Kalenjin with Kalenjin. Only when every tribe defends its own will we sit as equals. There’s no Kenya when one tribe speaks for the rest. Equality or nothing,” Olekina wrote.

The remarks prompted mixed reactions online, with some Kenyans supporting his argument as a candid reflection of the country’s political realities, while others accused him of reinforcing ethnic divisions. 

Nonetheless, the comments have reopened a long-standing national conversation on the role of ethnicity in governance more than six decades after independence.

Olekina’s comments come amid an intensifying debate on education equity, particularly the placement of students in national secondary schools. 

The discussion has recently been reignited by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who claimed that students from the Mount Kenya region are disadvantaged during placements to elite national schools located within the region despite strong academic performance.

Gachagua argued that communities that invest heavily in school infrastructure, including classrooms, laboratories and dormitories, should not see local students miss out on placements in favour of learners from other regions with lower marks. 

He maintained that his position is grounded in merit and fairness, insisting that students who perform well academically should be admitted to national schools purely on the basis of results.

However, his remarks have attracted criticism from several leaders who say he framed a national issue through an ethnic lens.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen recently faulted Gachagua, saying the former deputy president approaches sensitive national matters, including education and the fight against drugs, from what he described as a parochial perspective that risks deepening divisions.

Olekina has previously weighed in on the same subject. Following the release of the 2025 KCSE results on January 9, 2026, he criticised the national schools model, describing it as outdated and divisive. 

He argued that Kenya’s continued focus on a small number of elite institutions fuels elitism, inequality and unhealthy competition along ethnic lines.

“The truth is, Kenya’s obsession with ‘top schools’ is misplaced. Our glorified national schools are a relic that fuels elitism, tribalism and inequality,” the senator said.

According to Olekina, intense competition for places in schools such as Alliance High School and Mang’u High School often distracts from deeper systemic challenges within the education sector.

He noted that while national attention remains fixed on a handful of prestigious institutions, many schools in rural and marginalised areas continue to operate with inadequate staffing, limited facilities and insufficient learning materials.

The senator argued that sustainable reform should prioritise raising standards across all public schools rather than concentrating resources and prestige in a few institutions. 

He said equal access to quality education would help reduce tensions that frequently emerge during national school placements.