Former journalist Gordon Opiyo has issued a stark warning to Kenyans as the country inches closer to the next general election, urging leaders and citizens to confront what he describes as the “root causes” of the 2007–2008 post-election violence.
In a detailed reflection on his experiences during the disputed 2007 elections and the violence that followed, Opiyo recounted firsthand encounters that he says continue to haunt him nearly two decades later.
“In the run-up to the 2007 elections, I was assigned the duty of reporting on the economic policies of all political camps, and inevitably I found myself covering the political rhetoric. And it was bad. Very, very bad,” he said.
He added that his involvement in 2008 as part of a translation team for foreign journalists exposed him to the full scale of the crisis.
“I saw thousands of bodies spread all over. These sights still traumatize me to date. One of the things I promised myself is never to remain silent,” Opiyo stated.
Opiyo linked the violence to unresolved political and social tensions, arguing that the country has avoided confronting uncomfortable truths.
“In 2007, Raila Odinga, backed by Musalia, Ruto and Balala, delivered multiple regions and resoundingly won the election. But why was he denied the presidency? That is the root cause Kenyans have refused to confront,” he said.
He further claimed that exclusionary attitudes among sections of political leadership contributed to the crisis.
“I sat in offices where I heard top leaders say, ‘We can never let a Kihii lead us,’ and others insist power cannot leave them. That is the root cause of the problems we face in Kenya,” he added.
The former journalist called for a national conversation on what he termed “radicalism, cultism and supremacism,” warning that failure to address these issues could trigger renewed instability.
“Every national problem has its root in some form of radicalism, cultism and supremacism. We must openly talk about these issues—not to condemn any community, but for the sake of peace,” he said.
Opiyo also referenced current political trends, cautioning that rising tensions could mirror past patterns.
“We are seeing a dangerous trajectory and pretending we have no problem. Arresting a few MPs will not solve this. It goes deeper,” he noted.
Calling for unity, Opiyo emphasized the need to safeguard peace ahead of the next elections.
“Kenyans need peace. We should never allow any single person to die or feel threatened because of political choices. Anything short of addressing the root cause is cosmetic,” he said.