Moses Kuria. Photo/Courtesy
Former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has issued a rare public apology to the Luo community, acknowledging the role of political rhetoric in deepening divisions between Kenya’s major ethnic groups.
In a statement shared on X, Kuria admitted that for over six decades, narratives portraying the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Raila Odinga as political adversaries of the Kikuyu community were deliberately used to mobilise voters in Mt Kenya.
He described the practice as harmful and counterproductive to national unity.
“On behalf of the Kikuyu community and Mt Kenya people at large, I offer my unqualified and profuse apology to the Luo nation,” Kuria said, emphasising that such narratives should not define inter-community relations.
Kuria likened the strategy to religious symbolism, where institutions sometimes rely on a perceived enemy to rally support.
He said this approach, while politically effective, entrenched ethnic mistrust and contributed to long-standing divisions in Kenyan politics.
At the same time, he cautioned against creating new narratives of blame.
Kuria stressed that neither former president Uhuru Kenyatta nor the Kikuyu community should be seen as enemies of the Luo people.
“We cannot sustain a devil narrative for another 60 years,” he added, calling for a shift away from ethnic mobilisation as a political tool.
Kenya has a long history of ethnic-based political alignments, particularly between Mt Kenya and Nyanza regions.
Voting patterns in general elections often reflect communal loyalties, with leaders from these regions frequently positioned as political rivals. Kuria’s admission underscores the enduring impact of such framing on national cohesion.
By addressing the historical misuse of ethnic narratives, Kuria’s apology highlights a growing recognition among political leaders of the need to promote inclusive politics and rebuild trust between communities long divided by partisan campaigns.