“We have rejected tribalism,” Catholic Archbishop Cautions Kenyans against Incitement by Politicians

Nyeri, 27 August, 2025 / 5:15 PM

The Catholic Archbishop of the Kenya’s Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri has challenged Kenyans to be aware of the divisive tactics of political leaders, and to say no to politicians who seek to incite them along tribal lines.

In his reflection, Archbishop Anthony Muheria urged Kenyans to be on the lookout for politicians who go about feeding people with tribal thoughts. He observed that politicians have the tendency to sway masses to hate those they have fallen out with politically.

“Kenyans, do not be dragged back into tribal thoughts,” Archbishop Muheria said in his reflection on Tuesday, August 26.

He added, “We are telling you politicians that we have rejected words of hatred. We cannot accept that just because your plate, from which you were eating, has been taken away, you now start turning against each other with insults.”

The Catholic Church leader found it baffling that politicians are peaceful when they are together, “united in doing wrong through corruption and theft”, and turn against each other when they part ways.

“The same thieves who once stole together are now turning against one another, starting to divide among themselves what they had plundered,” he said.

“When we hear politicians singing songs of hatred and insults of brutality, we must separate ourselves. We must tell them, ‘be silent’,” Archbishop Muheria added.

The Catholic Archbishop appealed to the people of God in the East African country to avoid tribalism, saying, “Beloved Christians, we must rise up and remind ourselves that these ways can never be accepted in the ways of Christ.”

He found it unfortunate that when Kenyans disagree, they begin to think along tribal lines.

The Archbishop of Nyeri Archdiocese highlighted some of the major effects of tribalism on the nation, drawing examples from Rwanda, which experienced genocide due to tribalism fueled by politicians.

“Remember Rwanda,” the Kenyan Church leader said, and added, “The conflict started when politicians started telling the citizens that people of a certain tribe were certain animals. They began calling names. They called them cockroaches, saying these cockroaches must be eliminated…That is how Satan enters the mouths and souls of those who hate.”

The Local Ordinary of Nyeri urged the people of God to embrace unity, returning to the ways of Christ, saying, “Beloved Christians, it is again time to return to the ways Christ has called us to. We are one people. We are one community. We are the tribe of Christ. The blood flowing in our veins after baptism is the blood of Christianity.”