When Gen Z flooded the streets last year chanting “We are tribeless!”, it felt like a new dawn. A dawn where Kenya’s politics was no longer rooted in tribe. Something that actually made some tribal politicians nervous, since ethnicity had long been their strategy and comfort zone.

This politically aware generation seemed ready to dismantle decades of ethnic-driven politics and demand a different kind of leadership. However, during the 2025 Madaraka Day celebrations, a dark cloud appeared online. A cloud that seemed to cover the hope Gen Z had ignited just about a year ago. Social media became a battlefield of tribal jabs and old stereotypes. Every netizen was left wondering: is tribalism really dead, or has it just been rebranded with sharper hashtags and memes?

The 62nd Madaraka Day was held at the newly renovated Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County. Thousands of people started arriving as early as 9 p.m. the night before. By midnight, the 12,000-seater stadium was already full. Many spent the night sleeping on cold concrete, out in the open, waiting for hours just to hear the President speak. Soon, videos and photos of the scene went viral.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen such scenes. Similar gatherings have unfolded in Kasarani, Embu, and other places, especially before major national celebrations in stadiums. And each time, the same questions come up: Is this patriotism? Desperation? A paid crowd? Or just political worship dressed in national colours?

“Some people from certain regions are embarrassing us,” one person posted on twitter.
“Others packed stadiums early for different leaders. Now it’s happening again, and people are bitter?” another replied.

Claims spread quickly that some attendees were promised a handout to fill the stadium. Others defended the crowd, saying it showed dedication to their leader and love for their region. Then came a heated online battle that exposed deep resentments.

Some internet users pointed out that this isn’t really about tribes, but a Kenyan thing. In the past, people have slept in unfinished stadiums and waited for hours just for food and political events. If anything, Kenyans from all backgrounds have shown a strange willingness to endure discomfort for politics.
So, where does that leave Gen Z? The generation that said they are “post-tribal”

This event blew the lid off that claim. The tweets, memes, and insults that followed show we that we still have a long way to go in fighting tribalism. We haven’t ended it; we’ve simply moved it online, dressed it in sarcasm, and masked it with digital outrage.

Gen Z may be more connected, expressive, and outspoken than any generation before, but when political tension rises, many still seem to fall back on familiar tribal lines. If this same generation can unite to bring the country to a standstill, surely they also have the power to reject recycled ethnic hate.