Kenya's Ruling Party Secretary General Issues Public Apology After Ethnic Division Claims
Nairobi, 24 May 2026
Hassan Omar Hassan, Secretary General of Kenya’s United Democratic Alliance, has apologised following accusations of promoting ethnic hostility against the Kikuyu community. The controversy erupted after Omar’s remarks during recent fuel strike protests, which critics interpreted as targeting specific communities. Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara directly accused both Omar and President William Ruto of deliberately fostering anti-Kikuyu sentiment ahead of the 2027 elections. Omar maintains his comments concerned historical coastal land injustices rather than ethnic division, highlighting deepening fractures within Kenya’s ruling party and raising concerns about tribal narratives potentially destabilising national cohesion.
Omar’s Official Response and Context
In a statement issued on 24 May 2026, Omar clarified that his controversial remarks were made within the context of his long-standing advocacy on historical land injustices affecting the Coast region [1]. The UDA Secretary General explicitly stated that his comments were not intended to promote ‘division, hostility, or animosity’ among communities, insisting that they were never meant to ‘demean, offend, or target any community’ [1]. Omar acknowledged that some Kenyans, particularly from Central Kenya, may have felt aggrieved by his remarks, offering a sincere apology to those who may have been offended and expressing regret for the misunderstanding [1].
Original Controversial Statements During Fuel Protests
The controversy stems from comments Omar made during recent nationwide fuel strike protests, where he accused sections of the transport sector of bias and warned that action would be taken against leaders he claimed were inciting unrest [1]. During these remarks, Omar specifically threatened the arrest of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua if found culpable of incitement linked to the protests, stating: ‘This is no joke… If Riggy G breaks the law and the arms of the law point at him, we will arrest him’ [1]. Omar also questioned why matatu operators withdrew services under President Ruto’s administration yet did not stage similar action during fuel price challenges under former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime [1].
Sharp Political Backlash and Ethnic Division Concerns
The remarks triggered fierce criticism from Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara, who on Saturday accused both President William Ruto and Hassan Omar of deliberately fuelling ethnic hostility ahead of the 2027 General Election [2]. Speaking to the press in Naivasha, Kihara claimed the two leaders were deliberately pushing an anti-Kikuyu narrative, which she argued threatens national cohesion [2]. She criticised what she termed President Ruto’s ‘reckless’ remarks about the Mt Kenya region, arguing that voters from the area supported him in 2022 and have a legitimate right to hold him accountable over unfulfilled campaign pledges [2]. ‘He made commitments during the 2022 campaigns and many of those commitments remain unfulfilled and the people have every right to hold him accountable, and he cannot respond by weaponising ethnicity against them,’ Kihara stated [2].
Broader Political Implications and Systemic Concerns
Kihara’s criticism extended beyond individual remarks to systemic issues within the current political landscape. She dismissed claims that former President Mwai Kibaki introduced tribalism in government, calling such assertions baseless [2]. The MP also faulted leaders from the Mt Kenya region serving in government for what she described as silence in the face of hate speech, whilst claiming the National Cohesion and Integration Commission lacks capacity due to an insufficient number of commissioners [2]. Additionally, Kihara alleged that recent demonstrations in parts of the Mt Kenya region following fuel price increases—during which businesses were torched and property destroyed—were sponsored to portray the Kikuyu community negatively [2]. Despite these concerns, she insisted that voters would not be swayed by ethnic politics, asserting that Kenyans are more informed and can see through manipulation [2]. Omar, meanwhile, urged Kenyans to use constitutional processes to express discontent, telling those opposed to President Ruto’s administration to wait until the 2027 General Election [1].