Historically, the Kenyan political doctrine has often resorted to ethnicism as a strategic tool to fragment the country, employing "divide and rule" tactics to pit communities against each other and exploit the schisms created by politically crafted fear-mongering. However, in this critical moment, Kenyans demonstrated a profound spirit of oneness and a powerful repulsion towards tribal and ethnic manipulation. They collectively marshaled their efforts, standing in unison, covering for each other, and identifying with whichever community found itself under siege.
It was evident to most Kenyans that the demonstrations were a broad, national push for systemic change, driven by a collective dissatisfaction with the state of leadership and the economy. However, certain politicos, armed with a malicious drive, began to peddle a misleading narrative, consistently blaming the turbulent outcome of the Saba Saba demonstrations on the Kikuyu tribe. The implication was that the movement was merely the disgruntled action of one community intent on destabilizing the presidency, rather than a reflection of national malaise.
Yet, in a powerful display of civic maturity, Kenyans, who have increasingly become sensitized to the manipulative machinations of the political class, refused to succumb to this nefarious narrative. Instead, they launched a brilliant counterattack, actively working to neutralize the ethnic undertones that had begun to gain currency. A consensus quickly formed: Kenya has made remarkable strides from the ignorant days when tribal politics unilaterally shaped the national mood. Kenyans, it seemed, had now evolved from susceptible bigots to forward-thinking individuals capable of viewing national issues through a largely neutral prism.
This collective resistance was dramatically ignited in direct response to a provocative tweet from South Mugirango MP and National Assembly Chief Whip, Silvanus Osoro. Just hours after the Monday night chaos had subsided, Osoro tweeted: "Now we know which community has been hiding behind Gen Z." This thinly veiled attempt to dogpile on the Kikuyu tribe was a clear effort to reduce a national cry for justice to a fleeting, tribal discontent, thereby deprecating the widespread suffering experienced by millions of Kenyans.
Predictably, Osoro’s tribal gambit spectacularly backfired. Following a torrent of indignant attacks from Kenyans across social media platforms, he swiftly pulled down the offending tweet. However, he followed it up with several subtle, yet persistent, attacks aimed at a "disgruntled community," hoping to keep the embers of tribal division burning.
His tribal gimmickry, however, was decisively challenged a day later when the powerful hashtag #WeAreAllKikuyu began to trend across X (formerly Twitter). Within hours, the hashtag surged to become the dominant topic, drawing in a diverse range of participants from seasoned politicians to activists, influencers, political commentators, and even foreigners. The assignment was simple, yet profound: users were encouraged to adopt a Kikuyu name of their liking and append it to their social media handles, if only for a fleeting moment, as a symbol of togetherness and resolute opposition to jingoism and tribal chauvinism.
The response was overwhelming. Everyday X users, prominent media personalities, and even established political figures like Kalonzo Musyoka enthusiastically embraced the trend, leading to a wave of Kikuyu surnames inundating the internet. This visible act of solidarity powerfully underscored a collective rejection of ethnic scapegoating.
Inevitably, the venture attracted detractors who failed to grasp the nuanced genius behind the hashtag. Some claimed that #WeAreAllKikuyu was, ironically, tribal in itself, questioning why it wasn't encompassing all tribes if the objective was unity. However, prominent X user Cyprus Nyakundi articulated a compelling defense against this criticism, indirectly responding to the government’s own counter-hashtag, #WeAreAllKenyans. "Of course we’re all Kenyans. That was never in doubt. But when the state isolates one tribe, attacks it, brands it dangerous, and tries to break its spirit... we become that tribe." He continued, "If they target Kikuyus, we are Kikuyus. If they target Kisiis, we are Kisiis. If they come for Luhyas, we are Luhyas. That’s not tribalism... It is resistance. #WeAreAllKikuyus."
Politicians understand that by reducing entire communities to mere pieces in a political game, they can whip up emotions, evade accountability, buy themselves time, and shift the narrative of conflict back onto the people. It is against this grotesque backdrop that the hashtag #WeAreAllKikuyu was conceived – not to merely elevate one tribe over another, but to shoulder a battered community in the face of unjustified political projectiles, and to unequivocally declare that in Kenya, collective solidarity will triumph over divisive tactics.
