As Kenya inches toward the 2027 General Elections, the country is witnessing the resurgence of an all too familiar political strategy: Fear. Politicians are once again invoking the ghosts of the 2007/08 post-election violence (PEV) [a traumatic national tragedy] not to promote healing, but to manipulate the public emotions and reinforce the status quo. This is not an accident; it is an ideology, a deliberate tactic deployed by political elites to influence outcomes in their favor.
For instance, the recent utterances by various political leaders within the government and the opposition thinly veiled threats warning of violence, chaos, or instability are neither new nor isolated.
They are part of a longstanding pattern. In the run-up to the 2022 general elections, similar fear-laced rhetoric surfaced where the then opposing candidate now sitting President (William Ruto) engulfed the then regime that had isolated him in a circle of “if the election outcome would go a certain way, then there would have been consequences”. This suggesting that the trauma of PEV remains a political currency for those seeking to gain or retain power.
Not new in Kenya’s political landscape
Kenyan politicians have mastered the art of positioning themselves as messianic figures and the only ones capable of preventing disaster.
They evoke fears of returning to past regimes, economic collapse, tribal persecution, or national insecurity, all in an effort to present themselves as the solution to impending problems.
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In this political theory, the leader becomes the “savior,” and the alternative no matter how legitimate or democratic, is painted as a dangerous gamble.
A situation Kenyans are witnessing as several people front themselves to contest for the presidency.
This fear messaging is not meant to foster national unity or democratic engagement; it’s designed to trap voters in a false binary support the incumbent/certain candidate or risk catastrophe.
Fear works best when the public is kept emotionally charged and intellectually disengaged. Politicians use it to divert attention from the real, pressing concerns facing Kenyans: corruption, poor service delivery, mismanaged public funds, and widespread unemployment.
Rather than encourage scrutiny, fear-based politics will compel citizens to focus on imagined enemies and apocalyptic futures.
The aim is to instead of asking hard questions about governance, voters are kept preoccupied with the fear of a “greater evil.” It’s an effective decoy, and it has worked repeatedly.
Politics of ethnicity in Kenya
Kenya’s political system remains deeply ethnicized. Politicians exploit tribal identity to sow division and consolidate support, warning their communities that power in the hands of “the other” spells doom.
This ethnic baiting not only fuels inter-community tension but also entrenches bloc voting, where entire communities cast their ballots based on identity rather than ideology or policy.
Moreover, this has been a repeated pattern in Kenyan politics where a winning presidential candidate’s win is dictated by key voting blocs.
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Such tactics have dangerously normalized tribalism in national politics, undermining meritocracy, inclusivity, and unity. Elections become ethnic headcounts rather than opportunities to advance democratic ideals.
For an incumbent regime, fear is also a tool for silencing dissent. Activists, whistleblowers, and opposition leaders are often branded as threats to peace and stability where criticizing government failure becomes an act of sabotage. The result is a shrinking civic space where citizens are discouraged from supporting alternative voices for fear of being associated with unrest or rebellion.
Mass manipulation
Leaders understand well that in a democratic space the voter will make a well-informed decision that does not align to their ideologies. The strategic delegitimization of dissent is particularly concerning in a country where democratic maturity is still under development. It not only disempowers the electorate but also creates a toxic environment for democratic participation.
Fear spreads faster than facts. This is a fundamental reality in the digital age where misinformation, fake news, and propaganda travel with lightning speed. Politicians capitalize on this to distort reality, influence public opinion, and steer narratives. They know that emotional triggers especially fear are far more powerful than logical arguments or data.
Call to Kenyans
Therefore, Kenyans must confront this weaponization of fear head-on. Kenyans must resist being hostages in political mind games that exploit our trauma, ethnic identities, and insecurities. Democracy thrives where citizens are empowered to make informed choices, not where they are coerced by manufactured fear for people wanting to clinch or retain power.
It is time we begin to ask the tough questions: What policies are on the table? Who is genuinely offering a path forward? How is public money being used? Are our institutions being strengthened or eroded?
We must remember: politicians should not dictate the trajectory of our country. The people must. And that begins with breaking free from the chains of fear and reclaiming our voice in the democratic process. Let 2027 not be another chapter in the politics of fear. Let it be the beginning of politics of reason, hope, and transformation.
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