This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
June 23, 2020, marked a significant day in Kenya's political landscape as President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the nomination of Nancy Gathungu as Auditor General, alongside Silas Murira Kinoti as the new Director-General for Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA). This move has reignited the debate over the perceived dominance of the Kikuyu Community in senior government positions.
The appointment of General Robert Kibochi as the Chief of Defence Forces just a month prior has further fueled the discussion. A social media list has been circulating, highlighting the significant presence of the Kikuyu Community in key government roles, from the Central Bank to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Intelligence.
As the hashtag #KikuyuProfiling trended on Twitter, bloggers and journalists like Tony Gachoka spoke out in support of the community. Gachoka emphasized that any attempt to intimidate the Kikuyu Community would be futile.
"I am Very Proud to be born a Kikuyu, proud of my people, our history as freedom fighters & our heritage of hard work. Our women are beautiful, our land & toil is productive; we are self-sustainable. Any attempt by ANYONE to target or intimidate us shall fail." Gachoka said in a tweet.
However, the question remains: has the common Mwananchi in Mt. Kenya benefited from the tribe consolidating power? Political activist Boniface Mwangi has exposed the exploitation of workers on big tea farms in Kiambu, while a stalled project in Gatundu has been reported to be exposing locals to diseases due to poor management.
It is essential to acknowledge that the Kikuyu Community is not being targeted; rather, they must recognize that they are facing similar challenges as other regions in the country. Their leaders, like all Kenyan politicians, are taking them for a ride.
