Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale sparked controversy when he likened the Kikuyu community to hyenas during a public event in Mandera County. Speaking in Somali, Duale praised government efforts to uplift the Somali community but then made remarks suggesting the Kikuyu believe "no one else should live in Kenya," before using the derogatory comparison.
While some Mt. Kenya leaders condemned the comment, many Kikuyu embraced the label, transforming it into a symbol of pride and political defiance. At a rally in Mbeere South, Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua challenged the insult, declaring that the Kikuyu would "devour" the Kenya Kwanza administration in the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua told supporters:
- "Wewe umeuita mafisi ni sawa, tumekubali. Mwaka ujao tutakukula wewe, tukutafune na tukumeze." (You called us hyenas, and we accept. Next year we will devour you.)
- "Tumekubali sisi ni mafisi, na hatutakula mtu mwingine. Tunangoja wewe Kasongo, tarehe kumi mwezi wa nane, tutakukula." (We accept being hyenas and will not harm others. We are waiting for you, Kasongo, on August 10th, we will devour you.)
The community’s creative response has extended to social media, where AI-generated videos feature hyenas speaking Gikuyu, proudly asserting their identity with phrases like "Turi Agikuyu, na tutihakagwo macuru!" (We are Kikuyu, and you cannot easily fool us). Popular content creator Mbote Njogu led crowds in chanting "hyena cries" at a Kikuyu Mugithi event, further normalizing the reclaimed insult.
This trend is part of a broader political phenomenon where marginalized groups convert slurs into badges of honour, disarming their detractors. Similar instances include the rise of India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta Party, sparked by a judicial insult, and Kenyan politicians playfully adopting labels like "grasshoppers".
By embracing these derogatory terms, communities are reshaping political discourse and resistance strategies ahead of upcoming elections.
