By A Concerned Son of Gusii

Dear brothers and sisters of Gusii,

The political season is gathering steam with the noise and excitement that mark every Kenyan election.

This time, however, we find ourselves at a crossroads of pride and peril.

Two of our distinguished sons, Dr Fred Matiang’i and former Chief Justice David Maraga, have emerged as possible presidential contenders in 2027.

Both are from Nyamira County, one of the smallest in Kenya but undoubtedly one of the richest in human talent.

Their names command respect across the nation.

Their records speak for themselves.

Each, in his own way, has served Kenya with integrity, courage, and diligence.

Yet, while their ambitions honour us, they also present a dilemma that we, as a community, cannot afford to ignore.

The cruel truth of Kenyan politics is that it is rarely guided by merit or logic.

 It moves instead along ethnic and regional lines, shaped by alliances rather than ideals.

Our country votes in blocs, and within those blocs, unity is power, while disunity is political suicide.

If both Dr Matiang’i and Justice Maraga were to stand for the presidency, what would it mean for us as a people?

It would mean a divided Gusii vote, a fractured voice, and an image of a community that cannot rise above its own ego to pursue collective good.

Instead of speaking with one strong voice, we would sound like a quarrelling choir.

Worse still, we would reduce a national contest to a village argument.

Let us not deceive ourselves: Kenya’s political field is crowded. President Ruto, former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka, and others are already positioning themselves.

We cannot afford to send two strong sons to the battlefield to fight each other while others unite behind one banner.

That would be, as the elders say, like two bulls locking horns in the same kraal, leaving the gate open for strangers to drive away the herd.

If the two men cannot themselves find the humility to sit together and reason, then our elders must take up the responsibility.

They must not wait until campaign songs fill the air and then start holding hurried meetings in hotels and tents.

Leadership calls for foresight, not reaction.

Our elders, clergy, and opinion leaders must bring Dr Matiang’i and Justice Maraga to one table for an honest conversation about unity and strategy.

It is not a sign of weakness for one of them to step down. It is wisdom.

The Bible gives us a story that fits this moment perfectly.

Two women once claimed to be the mother of the same child.

They both pleaded before King Solomon.

The wise king, seeing their stubbornness, ordered that the baby be cut into two so that each woman might take a half.

It was only then that the true mother cried out in pain, begging the king to spare the child and give it to the other woman.

Her love was greater than her pride.

The presidency is our child and we cannot cut it into two.

If we try, we shall lose it altogether.

The true lover of the Gusii cause will be the one willing to set aside personal ambition for the sake of the community’s honour and future.

We have produced many great minds, from scholars and judges to administrators and captains of industry.

But greatness is not measured by titles or offices held; it is measured by the courage to put others first.

Let us therefore ask our two sons to embrace dialogue and make a joint decision that will lift, not divide, their people.

The time to act is now.

Let us not wait until the votes are cast and regrets fill the air.

Let us remember that unity is the only crown worth wearing.

I thank you!