Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua caused a stir on Tuesday, June 23, after delivering an address in 10 different local languages.
The address centered on pertinent issues including ethnicity, unemployment and poverty, with Mutua reiterating that Kenyans were being taken for a ride by the political class.
His address in languages including Sheng', Luo, Kisii, Giriama, Kalenjin and Maasai, however, opened a floodgate of mixed reactions from Kenyans.
A section accused Mutua of 'butchering' their vernacular languages, while others dismissed it as a Public Relations (PR) stunt from the Governor. Others, however, commended Mutua for an impressive effort and urged Kenyans to focus on the message.
"Why is the Gov't insisting it has closed Torture Chambers when Alfred Mutua is out there torturing Dholuo into submission?" asked Gabriel Oguda.
"KiMaasai has demanded to be rescued from Dr Mutua’s mandibles or it will go back to Entorrorr," wrote one Ole Tiwaine.
"And our Luhya dialect! Our language is now reported to be in isolation in Machakos after developing difficultly in breathing," responded Okumba Lwanda.
In the video, Mutua insisted that it was important for Kenyans to drop tribal thinking in order to get rid of ills including entrenched mega-corruption.
The Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC) party leader urged Kenyans to abandon tribal formations and ethnic alignments to guarantee a prosperous future.
Mutua, who has declared his candidacy for the Presidency in 2022, promised Kenyans that backing him would bring an end to tribe-based politics.
"Are you tired of living in a country of a few wealthy people and millions in poverty? Are you tired of not having enough money when your taxes continue to be stolen by a few?
"Are you tired of seeing youth giving up because there are no jobs? Colonialists left us with the division of tribe. Covid-19 has shown us that it doesn't care about tribe.
"If you want Kenya to be a peaceful country, with justice and prosperity, let's live together without tribalism and to elect leaders based on their record and ability to deliver transformational development," he stated.
The governor had criticised coalition and cooperation agreements signed by the ruling Jubilee Party with parties including, KANU, Wiper and Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) as the coming together of tribal outfits.
In his video, he compared politicians leading tribal formations to British colonialists in Kenya who used the rules of divide and conquer to set various communities against each other.
"Let's open eyes and stop being played by these politicians along lines of tribe just like the colonialists did. Poverty does not know tribe.
"I urge you to support me and the people of Machakos in my efforts to eradicate tribal politics. A Kenyan is a Kenyan," he stated.
Watch the Swahili version below:
Watch the Maasai version below:
Watch the Luhya version below:
