The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has publicly apologized to the Luo community, acknowledging that decades of political messaging wrongly portrayed the Luo and their leaders as adversaries of the Kikuyu community—a narrative he described as misleading and harmful.
In a statement on Wednesday, Kuria noted that for over six decades, Kikuyus were led to view Luo political figures, especially the Odinga family, with suspicion and hostility for political gain.
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He said this narrative entrenched ethnic divisions and was deliberately used to serve partisan interests.
“For 60 years, Kikuyus were fed a demonised image of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Raila Odinga. This became a powerful tool for political mobilisation,” Kuria said.
Using a religious metaphor, he added that fear-driven narratives were weaponized to gain political support, even when they distorted historical and political facts. He emphasized that such tactics undermined national unity and mutual respect among communities.
“Just as the church can exist without angels but not without a devil, this approach was wrong,” he said.
Kuria offered what he called an “unqualified and heartfelt apology” to the Luo community, stressing that the portrayal of the community and its leaders as enemies was unjustified and harmful. He also urged Kikuyu leaders, particularly from the Mt Kenya region, to confront and correct historical narratives that have fueled mistrust.
“On behalf of the Kikuyu community and the people of Mt Kenya, I offer my sincere and unqualified apology to the Luo Nation,” Kuria said.
At the same time, he warned against narratives that depict Kikuyus or former President Uhuru Kenyatta as enemies of the Luo, emphasizing that political disagreements should not evolve into ethnic hostility.
“Neither Uhuru Kenyatta nor Kikuyus are enemies of the Luo Nation. We must not be used as tools for political mobilisation,” he said.
Kuria stressed that Kenya cannot continue recycling divisive ethnic narratives, as sustained antagonism deepens polarisation and weakens national unity. He called on leaders and citizens to reject ethnic scapegoating and embrace dialogue rooted in shared national interests.
“We cannot sustain a ‘devil narrative’ for another 60 years,” Kuria said, urging a break from politics driven by fear, blame, and ethnic antagonism.
