he term motif is used to describe a recurring structural or thematic element in a work. Similarly, in Tanzania’s general election on October 29, 2025, where President Samia Suluhu emerged victorious, the country experienced violence, unrest, and chaos, tarnishing its long-standing image as a symbol of democracy.
In Uganda’s general election held on January 15, 2026, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni – who has ruled the country since 1985 – defeated his opponent, Bobi Wine. Museveni secured 72 per cent of the vote, while Wine received 25 per cent in an election also marred by controversy and unrest.
As the saying goes, “When your neighbor is shaved, wet your head.” Violence and vote rigging were common threads in both the Tanzanian and Ugandan elections.
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What lessons should Kenya, preparing for its general election on August 10, 2027, draw from these experiences?
Kenya’s political environment differs from these two countries. Currently, Kenya’s political trajectory is being shaped by the wave of reforms driven by Generation Zoom (Gen Z) since June 2024.
The impact of this movement in Kenya is twofold. First, ethnic-based politics, which have historically dominated many African countries, especially Kenya since independence, are showing signs of weakening.
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Second, the Gen Z movement has shifted the focus of politics away from ethnic patronage, stimulating debates around transparency, accountability, and governance.
There are clear indications that in Kenya, ethnic groups may unite to challenge abuse, corruption, and the arrogance of politicians who often rely on ethnic divisions to protect their interests.
For example, in Ebrahim Nurdin Hussein’s 1969 Tanzanian play Kinjeketile (OUP), laborers forced to work on German plantations are taught by Kinjeketile Ngwale to recognize their shared oppression rather than remain divided along ethnic lines.
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The Tanganyika liberation struggle against German colonial rule faced numerous hardships, but unity proved crucial.
In the context of Kenya’s 2027 general election, all signs point to ethnic politics being far less dominant in the forthcoming contest.
Bitugi Matundura is a lecturer at Chuka University.
