During vetting by Members of Parliament before he was named Cabinet Secretary for Treasury and National Planning, John Mbadi disowned the Luo. Mbadi insisted was Suba and had nothing to do with the Luo – although he speaks Dholuo as mother tongue. Not a word in Lusuba!

(Lest we forget, among the Bantu communities that dominate the Lake Victoria Basin, Suba translate to; Remnant, Forgotten, ‘Misser’, Miss-out or Abandoned. Suba is one of those communities.)

“I am not a Luo; I am a Suba representing the minority communities in Kenya,” John Mbadi breathed fire during vetting on August 3, 2024.

On Monday this week, Mbadi announced that “his Luo” community will work with all other communities except the Kikuyu. In saying this, he shunned the Suba and became Luo. This is even beyond intellectual bigotry. Certainly, not ethnic nationalism. Maybe hyper-ethnic bigotry.

“We will work with every other community…except Kikuyus,” Mbadi declared.

Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi leads his ethnic separatism agenda by example. I find myself perplexed regarding the question on whose behalf Mbadi is speaking when he employs the term “We.”

He has not been elected by anyone, and as a Suba, he should refrain from involving himself with the Luo community.

However, to prove that he is not the quack leader I believe him to be, he must begin by setting an example that he will not work with Kikuyus.

According to ⁠National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and the Public Service Commission (PSC) data: Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) – there are 325 Kikuyus employed out of 1,311 positions (roughly 24.8 per cent) at the Central Bank. Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA): Kikuyus hold 50 out of 133 senior management roles (27.59 per cent) at Times Tower, 21 per cent of staff at Treasury are Kikuyus.

To demonstrate his dedication to his agenda that he and those he purports to represent will not work with the Kikuyus, Mbadi must start by himself ceasing all work and interactions with the Kikuyus himself. He must either dismiss all Kikuyus working under him, and if he is unable to do so, he should resign and seek employment in an environment devoid of Kikuyus.

Next, Mbadi must request that all individuals he claims to represent resign if they are employed by Kikuyu-owned companies, and he should ensure that alternative employment opportunities are provided for them. He should instruct all those residing in Kikuyu-owned properties to vacate and secure alternative housing for them.

Additionally, he should prohibit them from using Kikuyu-owned buses and matatus by presenting alternative options, among other measures.

In a globally interconnected world, another misguided isolationist leader, Trump, painfully learned this year that despite labelling China in various derogatory ways – such as currency manipulator, thief of American technology, the greatest geopolitical threat to the US, and exploiter of American resources – ultimately, one must negotiate for the benefit of all parties involved.

Even if you possess the strongest military, you cannot simply walk throw Iran. Furthermore, while you may harbour animosity towards undocumented immigrants in the US, their absence would lead to the collapse of the agricultural sector in the country. Lesson to Trump: It doesn’t matter how unfair China has undone US in trade for years; you cannot isolate or bully China to rectify the situation. Chest thumping led to nothing until narcissist Trump had to humble himself and travelled to China in May for talks.

Mbadi is advocating for what is referred to in human geography as “ethnic separatism.” I am confident he is unaware of this. Had he any understanding, he would recognise that ethnic separatism invariably results in tensions or conflicts within nations, particularly in multi-ethnic societies.

Names such as Théoneste Bagosora, Jean Kambanda, Vel Prabhakaran, and Karadzic likely do not ring a bell to Mbadi. Otherwise, he would comprehend the peril of the situation he is engaging in. He is as uninformed as all those ethnic separatists and isolationists whose knowledge is limited to what they have studied or inherited.

Trump, who inherited a real estate business from his father and Mbadi, who studied “managing and reporting on financial data to assist individuals and businesses in maintaining financial order and ensuring regulatory compliance.”

Raila’s presence created many mediocre Luo leaders such as Mbadi (that is, if he is Luo), Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Cabinet Secretary for Energy Opiyo Wandayi (is he rally Luo?) appear bright. As parties are negotiating across board, Mbadi asserts that “his” people will not engage with the most resourceful community in the nation. Pure stupidity if had people.

All significant achievements in this country have primarily resulted from collaboration between Kikuyus and Luos: Independence, multi-party democracy and the Katiba (constitution) not to mention a decade of economic prosperity for most Kenyans (2002-2013).

Governor James Orengo, as you lead the Linda Mwananchi team for the inaugural rally in the Mount Kenya, remind them of these accomplishments we have achieved together. Then, express gratitude for the 1.2 million votes they gave Baba in 2022, even though it was a little insufficient to hoist him to power. Acknowledge that we view each other as opponents, that is why we and our allies seek to negotiate with them to accomplish even greater mission for Kenya to save Kenya yet again.

• A Tell Media report / By Peter Owino Rang’inya / Courtesy: Wafula Buke