David Ole Sankok Warns Against Ethnic Politics Ahead of 2027 Elections
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 26 – East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament Hon. David Ole Sankok has issued a passionate call for national unity, warning political figures against invoking divisive narratives that risk reigniting ethnic tensions.
In a statement published across his social media platforms, the outspoken regional legislator urged citizens to reject rhetoric designed to pit communities against one another, emphasizing the deep social bonds that unify the country.​
“We are all hyenas because in Kenya we are siblings, cousins and in-laws,” Sankok declared, highlighting the extensive familial and marital ties that cut across tribal lines.
This comes after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale sparked a major political controversy in July 2026 by using a Somali proverb involving a hyena during a public address in Mandera County.
Critics alleged he used the imagery to demean the Kikuyu community, leading to a probe by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and backlash from leaders, while Duale stated that he was misquoted and that his words were a figurative metaphor targeting corruption cartels rather than any ethnic group.
Hon Sankok argues that these shared relationships must form the foundation for lasting peace and national cohesion rather than political conflict.​
Rejecting the “41 Against 1” Rhetoric​Sankok directed sharp criticism toward politicians he accused of resurrecting the controversial “41 against one” political framing a polarizing slogan famously associated with the ethnic mobilization surrounding Kenya’s tragic 2007 post-election crisis.​
The EALA MP warned that reintroducing such rrhetoric poses a direct threat to the stability Kenya has painstakingly built over the past two decades.
​Progress since 2007: Sankok noted that Kenya has made significant strides in post-violence reconciliation, institutional reform, and peaceful co-existence since 2007/08.​
Focus on policy over tribe: He urged political leaders to pivot away from exploiting ethnic identity for electoral leverage, calling instead for platforms centered on economic opportunities, development, and inclusive governance.
​2027 Political Realignments Take Shape, ​Sankok’s remarks come as early political realignments gain momentum ahead of the 2027 General Election.
As party leaders and coalitions begin testing campaign messages, public discourse has increasingly shifted toward demanding responsible leadership.​
“Attempts to reintroduce tribal arithmetic risk undermining our peaceful coexistence. The country must prioritize issue-based politics over ethnic mobilization.”​
His intervention joins a growing chorus of civil society and political voices urging candidates to focus on national economic priorities and youth opportunity, rather than falling back on legacy regional rivalries.
