Aaron Cheruiyot Nakuru Kikuyu remarks exploded across Kenyan social media this week, drawing sharp criticism from all sides after the Kericho senator allegedly said the county belongs to Kalenjins and labelled Kikuyus as thieves who need chasing away. The comments, shared in a viral post, hit hard in a country still healing from past ethnic clashes, and people wasted no time firing back online.
That line spread like dry grass in harmattan wind, picking up hundreds of likes and reposts in hours. Folks from Nakuru and beyond jumped in, some defending local unity, others warning about fresh trouble brewing.
One reply hit close to home, reminding everybody how Kikuyus got displaced from places like Eldoret back in the 2007 post-election mess, only to face similar talk now in their new spots.
Cheruiyot, a vocal United Democratic Alliance figure, hasn’t come out swinging against the quote yet. His silence lets the storm rage on. Meanwhile, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika found herself in the mix too.
She posted about touring a church project in the county, but commenters pointed out every name mentioned screamed Kikuyu – from her to the apostle leading it. That sparked more chatter, with people asking if leaders pick sides quietly or if it’s all coincidence in a diverse place like Nakuru.
Look, Nakuru stays a melting pot. Kalenjins, Kikuyus, and Luos – everybody mixes there for work, farms, and business. But old wounds open easily when talk turns to land.
Cheruiyot’s alleged words tap straight into that sore spot. One user put it raw: “Thanks to Aaron Cheruiyot for illiteracy and rooted tribal hate towards Kikuyu. Imagine being chased from Eldoret in 2007, then moving to Nakuru and now them saying this is their land, diabolical.” Hits you right in the gut, doesn’t it? Families rebuild lives, then boom — the same threats circle back.
Social feeds stay flooded. Hashtags about Nakuru politics trend hot, with videos and memes flying. One clip shows former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri daring Cheruiyot and others, calling the whole thing a bag of tricks roaming the county.
Youth from both sides weigh in heavy. Kalenjin voices back Cheruiyot’s push for unity in their backyard, saying it’s fair game in democracy. “They have a right to associate & assemble,” one post reads, turning heat on Kihika for fighting her own like Rigathi Gachagua while pleasing higher-ups.
Gachagua’s name pops up plenty too. The former deputy president catches flak for his own tribal talk, but now the shoe flips. “The same people who call Riggy G tribal for advocating Mt Kenya unity are crying and seeing red flags after Kericho Senator Cheruiyot gathered Kalenjin leaders at Nakuru, chasing away their PAs and drivers who are non-Kalenjins,” one account blasts.
‘Karma’, they say, opening eyes wide. Meetings like that – closed doors, specific tribes only – raise alarms in a place scarred by 2007 violence that killed thousands and displaced more.
. Nakuru, once a peace symbol after clashes, now simmers again. Warnings fly thick: “If fights break out, we are coming for him,” one post threatens Cheruiyot directly. Another calls him primitive, planning clashes nobody wants.
Kihika hits back, accusing Cheruiyot of pushing a tribal agenda that splits the county. She’s not sleeping on it, posting about projects that bring everybody together, like housing estates with malls and schools. But the divide shows clearly in comments — all Kikuyu names are called out, and there are questions about who really runs things.
At the end, Kenya needs calm heads. President Ruto’s camp stays quiet so far, but with elections far off in 2027, early sparks like this could burn big. Folks call for visits to hot spots and check facts on the ground. Is development lopsided? Are land grabs real? Answers matter more than words.
Cheruiyot’s remarks, true or twisted, remind everybody how fragile peace is. Nakuru belongs to all Kenyans, not one group. Let’s hope leaders remember that before things turn ugly. Conversations keep rolling online, but real talks need to happen offline quick.
