Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has criticised Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over his remarks on the Ol Kalou by-election, saying the comments promoted ethnic politics and risked dividing Kenyans.
She called on the Cabinet Secretary to apologise, arguing that leaders should unite the country instead of making statements that could fuel tribal tensions.
Waiguru described the remarks as regrettable, saying they unfairly reduced political issues to ethnic considerations.
She maintained that Kenya has worked for years to strengthen national unity and warned that careless political statements could reverse that progress.
According to the governor, leaders holding senior public offices have a responsibility to promote cohesion through both their actions and their words.
She also defended the Kikuyu community, noting that it strongly supported the current administration in previous elections. Waiguru said portraying the community’s political choices as an act of ethnic betrayal ignored the country’s recent political history and created unnecessary division.
She insisted that political differences should never be used to label or isolate any community.
The governor said Kenya belongs to every citizen regardless of tribe and urged political leaders to avoid messages that separate people along ethnic lines.
Instead, she encouraged leaders to focus on policies, development and the challenges affecting ordinary Kenyans.Her remarks come at a time when political activity is beginning to intensify ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Concerns have been raised over the possible return of tribal politics, a problem that has affected several election periods in the country’s history.The debate surrounding the Ol Kalou by-election has also shifted attention away from issues that many residents consider more important.
Roads, healthcare, employment opportunities, security, education and the high cost of living remain key concerns that voters expect leaders to address.
However, discussions around the by-election have instead been dominated by political statements linked to ethnicity.Political observers have often argued that when senior government officials use language that appears to favour or criticise communities based on tribe, it encourages supporters to judge politics through ethnic identity instead of leadership performance.
This can weaken public confidence in institutions and reduce attention on accountability and service delivery.
Waiguru said leaders should use the election period to present solutions to the country’s challenges rather than revive narratives that divide citizens.
She stressed that Kenyans deserve campaigns based on ideas, policies and development instead of tribal calculations.
The governor maintained that an apology from Duale would be an important step in easing the concerns raised by his remarks.
She said acknowledging the impact of such statements would demonstrate respect for all Kenyans and reinforce the importance of responsible leadership.
Waiguru urged political leaders across all parties to exercise restraint and promote peaceful, issue-based politics. She said Kenya’s future depends on leaders who bring people together, respect every community and place national unity above political interests.
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