Sloganeering has always been a critical element of the Kenyan political game since time immemorial.
Players often craft slogans and phrases as rallying calls to woo supporters into their respective political agendas.
For the better part of Saturday, June 7, "cousins" was among the topics in the trending charts of the Kenyan internet.
It was coined by former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who seemed to attract the natives of the Bantu subcommunities into his fold.
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He came up with the idea while addressing the residents of Ukambani; he said the Ukambani people are cousins to those from central Kenya, where he hails from, going ahead to caution President William Ruto from attacking the formation.
Even as he strives to shake off the tribalism tag plastered on him, Gachagua's latest sloganeering seems to be rallying up the Bantu communities in central, eastern and coastal Kenya against Ruto, a Nilotic native.
He said he would unite the Kikuyu, Akamba and coastal tribes by virtue of having the same ancestral extraction.
"President Ruto did not unite with Raila to unite Kenya, he sought Raila to stabilise his government... I have been sent by Mt Kenya people to look for our kin. Us Kikuyus, Kambas, Taitas and Mijikendas we are one family. We are cousins. I saw Ruto and his people making noise because we are united. They should keep off our family matters. Hi cousins, Hi macuzo! And the journey of cousins, the family of people who are like-minded, who are born together, who have the same tradition – the time for the cousins to come together is now," he declared while at the coast.
The slogan was immediately taken up by a section of Kenyans on the interwebs, greeting each other with the same zeal.
See some of the posts below;
Before the 'cousin' slogan was 'wantam', which Gachagua came up with to connote President Ruto's single term in office.
He declared that it was his mission to ensure that the president is not re-elected in the 2027 vote.
However, even as Gachagua weaponises slogans against Ruto, the former deputy president's critics argue that he capitalises on tribal arithmetic for his political expediency.
Ruto, on the other hand, has proven tough, promising Gachagua and his team a difficult political duel in 2027.
