Thursday, January 08,
2025 - President William Ruto has strongly criticized attempts to introduce
tribal considerations into the placement of students in national schools, in
what appeared to be a direct response to recent remarks by former Deputy
President Rigathi Gachagua.
Speaking on Thursday, January 8th, during the
disbursement of NYOTA business capital in Uasin Gishu County, Ruto warned
against the dangers of ethnic politics, particularly when it involves children
and education.
“Let’s not allow ourselves to be included in tribal
politics. Oh, you are Kikuyu, oh, you’re Luo, oh, you’re Kalenjin. That’s bad
politics,” he said.
The President argued that leaders who lack constructive
agenda often resort to divisive rhetoric.
“If someone doesn’t have a plan, they sell hate. If they
have no agenda, they sell tribalism,” Ruto stated.
He expressed concern over efforts to politicize school
placements along ethnic lines, saying such moves unfairly target innocent
children.
“They have even gone after our children in school. Do you
want to divide children in school?”
“How desperate can someone be? Let our children be,” he
added.
Ruto emphasized that all students deserve equal treatment
regardless of their ethnic background.
“Those children are Kenyans. Whatever community they come
from, they are children of Kenya,” he said.
His remarks followed controversy sparked by Gachagua during
a church service in Githunguri, Kiambu County, on Sunday, January 4th.
Gachagua had questioned why students from outside Mt. Kenya
were securing places in prestigious schools such as Alliance and Mang’u, while
local students were placed in lower‑ranked institutions elsewhere.
Alumni associations from both schools later defended the
merit‑based national admission policy, reaffirming their institutions’ status
as national schools open to all qualified learners.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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