Dr. Daniel Gikonyo, the proprietor of Karen Hospital, believes that Kenya missed a golden opportunity to tackle tribalism after the 2018 handshake between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga.
In a recent interview with political analyst Herman Manyora, Dr. Gikonyo emphasized that this handshake could have united the nation and ended decades of tribal politics. He noted that the leaders’ reconciliation sent a strong message of unity, yet many Kenyans didn’t fully embrace it.
He stated, “We lost a significant chance to move past tribal labels when Kenyatta and Odinga shook hands. It was a moment that could have brought the country together, but we let it slip away.”
Dr. Gikonyo pointed out that the ongoing political tensions, including historical issues from Limuru, could have been avoided if the spirit of the handshake had been widely accepted. He believes that the handshake, which led to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), had the potential to heal the nation’s wounds from tribalism.
Sadly, many opted to cling to ethnic politics rather than nurture the unity shown by the two leaders.
Reflecting on past opportunities, some analysts argue that the 2002 NARC victory under President Mwai Kibaki also represented a missed chance to eradicate tribalism. They suggest that if the pre-election power-sharing agreement had been honored, tribalism could have been weakened significantly. Instead, the focus on personal alliances reignited ethnic competition.
Despite these setbacks, Dr. Gikonyo remains hopeful that Kenya will eventually overcome tribalism.
