NAIROBI, Kenya — Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala has accused President William Ruto’s administration of orchestrating ethnic profiling against members of the Kikuyu community ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the former Kakamega senator alleged that senior government officials were pushing a dangerous political narrative similar to the divisive “41 against 1” rhetoric associated with the 2007 post-election violence.
“Over the last couple of months, we have witnessed a well-structured ethnic profiling of the members of the Kikuyu community by President William Ruto,” Malala claimed.
The outspoken politician accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar of spearheading what he termed as attempts to frame national dissatisfaction as an ethnic conflict between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities.
Malala warned that reducing economic and governance frustrations into tribal politics was dangerous and could reopen painful wounds from Kenya’s violent 2007/08 post-election crisis that left more than 1,300 people dead and displaced thousands.
“The Minister for Interior should be advised better. Reducing critical security issues to an ethnic clash between a Kikuyu and Kalenjin affair is bad for our nation,” he stated.
The DCP deputy leader further criticised the government over the rising cost of fuel, insecurity in northern Kenya, and economic hardships facing ordinary citizens.
According to Malala, Kenyans protesting over fuel prices, high taxation, poor roads, challenges in the education sector and the troubled Social Health Authority (SHA) system were not acting out of tribal interests but genuine economic frustrations.
“When Kenyans come out in the streets to demonstrate about high costs of fuel, mutilated payslips, dysfunctional SHA and failed education systems, it is not Kikuyu versus Kalenjin,” he said.
He also accused the government of attempting to divert public attention from the proposed Finance Bill 2026/2027 through ethnic-based political narratives.
Malala further hit out at the government’s handling of fuel prices, saying every Kenyan, including farmers, manufacturers, traders and transport operators, was suffering from the high cost of fuel.
“The high fuel costs affect farmers, traders, manufacturers, and all Kenyans,” he stated.
He also urged matatu operators not to increase fares following recent engagements with the government over fuel prices, arguing that ordinary Kenyans were already struggling economically.
The statement comes amid rising political tensions and public anger over the rising cost of living, fuel prices, and a growing debate over taxation policies under President Ruto’s administration.
