X Influencers Lead Spirited Campaign Against Tribalism, Celebs Join In: "We Are All Kikuyus"
- There has been a recent wave of anti-government protests in the country, which have often turned violent and chaotic
- Politicians allegedly pointed fingers at one particular community over the violence, sparking outrage online
- Many Kenyans, including celebrities and high-profile figures, united in solidarity by adopting names from the said community to fight the alleged tribalism
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Influencers on X are leading a spirited online campaign to root out alleged tribalism in Kenya, sparking a nationwide debate that is cutting across all divides.
Source: Twitter
On Tuesday, July 8, and spilling into Wednesday, the hashtag #WeAreAllKikuyus began trending on social media platforms across the country, originating from X.
Who is leading Kenya's anti-tribal movement?
The movement started shortly after the Saba Saba protests held on July 7.
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Saba Saba began in 1990 as a push for democracy, when opposition leaders marched to fight against Kenya being a one-party state.
In 2025, the protests' memorial turned messy, with clashes between police and protesters happening in several parts of the country.
Teargas filled the air, gunshots echoed in several areas, and tragically, lives were lost.
In some regions, property was looted or vandalised, with supermarkets like Magunas and Quickmart among those affected.
The hashtag was initiated by X activists after politicians accused a central Kenya community of allegedly fuelling the protests against President William Ruto’s regime.
They claimed the community was inciting unrest and mobilising nationwide demonstrations.
Why is #WeAreAllKikuyus trending?
Popular influencers on X strongly rejected the alleged ethnic profiling, insisting that the days of politicians using tribal lines to divide Kenyans were long gone.
Many declared that they identify first as Kenyans, not by their tribes.
They noted that no single ethnic group drove the protests, as Kenyans from every region came out in solidarity.
As is expected, Kenyans added humour to the situation.
Many began sharing memes poking fun at central Kenya stereotypes, from the community’s love for potatoes and soup-heavy meals to their infamous “R-for-L” accent.
Others went a step further, adopting Kikuyu names such as Ndegwa, Njoroge, Mwangi and others.
Who participated in the #WeAreAllKikuyus campaign?
The campaign gained momentum, drawing in celebrities and public figures.
Gospel singer Daddy Owen, who is partially blind, joined the trend, joking:
“What do you call a person with one eye in Kikuyu?”
Content creator 2mbili posted a humorous video mimicking a Kikuyu accent, declaring:
“My name is Mwangi wa Wildlife.”
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka tweeted:
“My name is Stephen Kariuki Musyoka.”
Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua posted:
“I am Rigathi Gachagua Reriani. I am from Nyeri.”
Media personality Carol Radull wrote:
“Carol Muthoni Radull Njoroge.”
Politician Martha Karua added:
“My name is Martha Akinyi Chebet Karua.”
Comedian Njugush jokingly declared:
“Hello my dawgs, Njugush Awiti.”
Journalist and activist Allans Ademba wrote:
“If the protests are from the Kikuyu community only, then I am Ademba Allans Kamau Ochieng.”
Source: UGC
What did William Ruto's allies say about tribalism?
Western leaders asked Kenyans to shun politicians promoting tribalism during Ruto's Western Kenya tour.
Speaking during Sunday, June 29 service at Cornerstone Church in Lurambi, Kakamega county, attended by the Head of State, Governor Fernandes Barasa, asked Kenyans to reject leaders who promote tribalism.
The Kakamega county boss accused Rigathi Gachagua and Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya of promoting divisive politics.
He urged Kenyans not to follow Wamunyoro and other leaders promoting tribalism, opining they don't want to see the country move forward. He urged citizens to ignore such leaders.
Lurambbi MP Titus Khamala echoed Barasa's sentiments, accusing Gachagua of trying to divide the country.
He urged Gen Zs to have a dialogue with Ruto instead of resorting to protests, which have seen many lose their lives.
Did Hashtag 'Siri Ni Numbers' go viral?
In a related update, the anniversary of the 2025 Gen Z-led protests sparked another big moment online as #SiriNiNumbers started trending.
On the day, the phrase quickly climbed to the number one spot on X in Kenya and beyond.
The hashtag gained global momentum, landing among the top 5 trending topics worldwide.
A quick look at the Trends24 website showed that #SiriNiNumbers consistently appeared across almost every hourly update of global top trends.
Caren Nyota, HoD Entertainment, added: What did William Ruto's allies say about tribalism?
Source: TUKO.co.ke
