BOLD GEN Z EXPLAINS WHY SHE CONFRONTED GACHAGUA IN US OVER TRIBAL POLITICS

Valentine Wanjiru Githae, a Kenyan Gen Z activist based in the United States, has explained why she publicly confronted former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during his recent diaspora tour.
In an interview, Wanjiru said she took issue with the way the Baltimore event on July 27 opened with Kikuyu songs and greetings, which she felt alienated other Kenyans in attendance. “Kikuyu songs were being played, and a few Kikuyu words were being thrown around,” she said, adding that the meeting was supposed to be inclusive of all communities.
Wanjiru, founder of the 6.25 Movement, told Gachagua to “position yourself as a national leader and not a tribal leader,” warning that tribal-centric politics—used by elites since independence—continue to divide rather than unite the nation.
The confrontation, captured on video and widely shared online, has divided opinion among Kenyans, with some praising her courage and others criticizing her approach. Gachagua has not responded directly to the remarks.