A heated exchange between media personality Fred Obachi Machokaa and blogger-turned-politician Robert Alai has stirred intense debate online, highlighting growing political and ethnic tensions in Kenya’s digital spaces.
The clash began when Machokaa strongly defended former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s right to seek public office, challenging critics to respect constitutional freedoms.
“Matiang’i is asking, and if you don’t like him, please vote for your candidate,” Machokaa fired back in a sharply worded post. “Stop insulting people for making certain choices which are enshrined in our constitution. According to you, what’s the meaning of democracy?!”
Machokaa also lashed out at unnamed critics, saying, “Mjinga ni wewe ndugu… You were not voted for because you were white as cotton, you only requested and some people thought… why not?”
The remarks triggered an equally scathing response from Alai, who dismissed Machokaa’s sentiments as tribal.
“I feel your ethnic rage. It’s just ethnic. I hope it cures you though,” Alai retorted. “Your problem is supply of ARVs not Presidency.”
Alai went further, drawing sharp criticism for a controversial closing jab: “Where is the insult in saying the things Matiang’i did? Does HIV bring insanity nowadays?”
The comment, perceived by many as discriminatory and stigmatizing, has sparked outrage online, with calls for Alai to apologize for linking health status to mental capacity.
“This isn’t debate, it’s pure hate,” tweeted one user. “You don’t attack someone’s health to make a political point.”
The exchange underscores a worrying trend in Kenya’s political discourse, where personal attacks and ethnic undertones increasingly drown out objective conversation.
As Kenya edges closer to another election season, this incident serves as a reminder of the fine line between free speech and hate speech—especially in a democracy whose foundations rest on respect, tolerance and inclusion.
Will the call for more civil engagement online be heard, or will the noise of hostility continue to rise? Only time—and the next comment thread—will tell
