PLO Lumumba warns Kenya risks ethnic implosion following rising tribal politics and leadership based on personality cults

Renowned governance expert and legal scholar Prof. PLO Lumumba has warned that Kenya risks slipping into dangerous ethnic divisions if the growing trend of tribal politics is not urgently addressed.

Speaking during the third African Youth Leadership Forum at Mount Kenya University, Lumumba cautioned that the country’s political scene has increasingly been dominated by ethnic rhetoric and personality-based politics signs, he said, of a nation trapped in toxic identity politics.

“The politics of ethnicity and personality cults will only take Kenya backward,” he warned, urging leaders to embrace politics rooted in ideas, integrity, and service delivery rather than tribal affiliations.

Lumumba also called on the youth to reject manipulation by politicians who exploit ethnic differences for selfish gain, stressing that young people have the power to transform Kenya’s political landscape through accountability and active participation in governance.

“The youth must liberate this country from the chains of tribalism. Don’t allow yourselves to be trapped in tribal cocoons,” he said. “If you permit poor governance, you will pay the price. Lamentations won’t help.”

He further warned that if Kenyans fail to confront the divisive political culture, the country risks retrogressing to a point where citizens could “become refugees in their own land.”

The forum, attended by youth leaders from various universities, was led by University of Embu alumnus Harrison Njoroge, who said the discussions reshaped their understanding of leadership and nation-building.

“We are concerned about how politicians use some of us to spread hate among communities. We must resist such manipulation,” Njoroge said.

AYLF Executive Advisor Leona Chebet noted that the forum provided mentorship and capacity-building opportunities for young leaders to identify local challenges and design solutions that foster peace and national cohesion.