Shikoh Kihika, Tribeless Youth: Fighting Tribal Politics Before 2027 Elections
With her activism, Shikoh Kihika seeks to re-educate her Kenyan base, about the futility of possessing insular ideas that lead to ethnic clashes every election cycle.
:Shikoh Kihika’s Tribeless Youth: Championing Diversity, Fighting Tribal Politics, and Shaping Kenya’s Future Ahead of 2027 Elections
By Charles Wachira
Shikoh Kihika, is the Executive Director of Tribeless Youth (TY), a four-year-old community-based initiative stitched up by a group of youths drawn from Nakuru County who according to this 25-year-old- “ saw the need to speak out against the injustices bedevilling Kenya wrought by tribal politics. ”
Based in Nakuru County, the country’s third largest city after the capital Nairobi and the port-based Mombasa metro, TY -which is a membership organisation – now has a footprint in seven counties including in Nakuru, Laikipia, Baringo, Nairobi, Kisumu, Uasin- Gishu and Kisii out of the country’s total of 47.
Conspicuously the seven counties have played out as flashpoints in every cycle of elections beginning Dec 1991. Then the heavy-handed administration of Daniel arap Moi grudgingly capitulated to a global momentum driven by the momentous collapse of the Wall of Berlin on 9 November 1989 leading to a return to plural democracy here after a hiatus of 14 years.
It turns out, that the fall of the Berlin Wall symbolised the apocalypse of totalitarianism beginning in Europe and eventually trickling down to the Asian and African continents.
Verifiably polls held in 1992, 1997, 2007, 2013 and 2017 in East Africa’s largest economy have routinely witnessed political violence, leading thousands of people to be killed and tens of thousands of others displaced in ethnic-related clashes.
These sanguinary acts, perpetrated by politics of identity, encapsulate the Achilles heel hindering the growth of national politics based on bread-and-butter issues. And if not gridlocked, embolden a future fraught with real possibilities of stirring secession and further bloodshed.
“Since independence, it’s evident that Kenyan politics has been characterized by ethnic tensions. But it was not until 2007/2008 that the demons of tribalism flared up after the hotly disputed national elections which left more than 1,000 people dead and thousands of others internally displaced. Numerous attempts to slay the dragon of tribalism have not been easy. Commissions have been formed, songs composed, and wars fought but still, we are not yet there in identifying the root cause of tribalism,” says Shiko who in 2018 emerged the runners-up in the national Diversity and Inclusion Awards & Recognition (DIAR), in the social media category.
The DIAR is a premier platform that recognises individuals and organisations in Kenya that promote diversity and inclusion.
“ It was against this backdrop that Tribeless Youth sought to change the tribal script in our country, making it hard for politicians to play the tribal card…. The aim of founding the organisation was to try to demystify the ideologies of ‘my tribe, my people’ to enhance unity amongst Kenya’s younger generation and turn them into change-makers,” says Shikoh.
Kenya is a youthful country with 75 % of its population aged between 18- and 35 years, according to the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OGCHR), with a large percentage unemployed and feeling marginalised in terms of access to opportunities, representation and participation.
Taking cognisant of the existential fact that a country cannot move progressively forward where a section of its populace plays the ageism card TY also soaks from the knowledge possessed by the elderly in society in an endeavor geared at changing the narrative “ that tribes are the problem by going back in history and using these lessons and experiences to redefine the future. This in turn helps young people to use history carried by the elderly to draw parallels about political participation then and now,” explains Shikoh.
In a working paper titled “ Sources of Ethnic Identification in Africa “ written by Edward Miguel, an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, and Daniel N. Posner, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of California, Los Angeles there is a symbiotic relationship between the intensity of political and economic competition and the salience of ethnicity.
“ … It’s’ clear that as African countries institute democratic and market reforms it will become more urgent – not less – for African governments to develop policies and institutional mechanisms that are capable of dealing with ethnic divisions. Kenya’s recent political developments are informative. After the reintroduction of competitive multi-party politics in the early 1990s, Kenya’s reform efforts have increasingly become mired in tribal politics, including violent ethnic clashes that left hundreds dead. Policies and institutions such as those in place in neighbouring Tanzania – a country known for its efforts at nation-building through the promotion of Swahili as a national language, and public education, might serve as a model for how Kenya, and other African countries, could dampen destructive ethnic divisions.”
To run TY, Shiko receives funding from generic local and international organisations including MidRift Hurrinet, a human rights organisation based in Nakuru, the Humanist Institute for Cooperation with Developing Countries (Hivos), VOICE Global and the FORD Foundation.
What achievements has TY achieved in its four years of existence?
“ As an organisation, having to mobilise and work together with various government agencies such as security sectors and county governments, civil society organisations, private sector and institutions of higher learning to address problems that bedeck our society such as corruption, extrajudicial killings and advocate for human rights, good governance and social justice has been our highlights,” says Shiko who seeks to entrench TY firmly across all the 47 counties in Kenya with young people at the helm of its leadership.
With Kenya scheduled to hold elections in 2027 Shiko certainly has her job cut out.
Keywords: Shikoh Kihika: Tribeless Youth: Tribal politics: Kenyan elections:Diversity and inclusion
Banking & Finance
Equity Group Expands Into Southern Africa as It Bets on Africa’s Trade Corridors
FY2025 results show more than half of Equity’s profits now come from regional subsidiaries.
Equity Group targets Angola, Zambia and Mozambique as it expands along Africa’s mineral corridors and deepens regional banking scale.
🧠 Executive Intelligence Overview
As a result of its strong FY2025 performance, Equity Group Holdings is accelerating a major expansion into Southern Africa. The lender is now targeting Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique in a strategic shift that reflects Africa’s evolving trade and mineral corridor economy.
Chief Executive James Mwangi confirmed in a Reuters interview on April 29, 2026, that the group is actively pursuing acquisition opportunities rather than greenfield market entry. This approach signals a deliberate pivot toward established financial institutions in structurally different markets.
Meanwhile, Equity’s strategy is increasingly shaped by Africa’s infrastructure-driven growth corridors, particularly the US-backed Lobito Corridor linking Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the World Bank, African financial systems are becoming more deeply integrated with trade logistics and commodity supply chains, which is reshaping cross-border banking expansion strategies.
🏛️ 1. From Rural Origins to Continental Banking Power
The institution’s current trajectory is anchored in a transformation that began 35 years ago, when Equity operated as a rural building society in central Kenya.
Since then, the lender has evolved into Kenya’s most profitable bank and one of Africa’s fastest-expanding financial groups. This transformation reflects a broader structural shift in African banking, where domestic institutions are increasingly becoming regional platforms.
📊 2. FY2025 Performance Underpins Expansion
Equity’s expansion push is strongly supported by its FY2025 financial results.
- Profit after tax: KSh 75.50 billion (~USD 582 million)
- Annual growth: 55%
- Regional subsidiaries contribution: 51% of total banking profit before tax
This performance highlights a structural shift in earnings away from Kenya toward regional subsidiaries.
In addition, the International Monetary Fund notes that African banks with diversified regional exposure tend to demonstrate stronger resilience during domestic economic cycles, particularly in volatile macroeconomic environments.
🌍 3. DRC Remains the Core Profit Engine
The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to play a central role in Equity’s regional strategy.
The lender is currently the second-largest bank in the country, following acquisitions completed in 2015 and 2020. These transactions helped establish a strong market position in one of Africa’s most underbanked but resource-rich economies.
As a result, the DRC has become Equity’s most important regional earnings hub outside Kenya.
FY2025 performance reflects this dominance:
- Profit: KSh 24.70 billion (~USD 190 million)
- Growth: 58% year-on-year
- Estimated market share: ~24%
Moreover, the World Bank continues to classify the DRC as a frontier financial market with significant long-term inclusion potential despite elevated operational risks.
🚢 4. Lobito Corridor: The Structural Growth Logic
Equity’s expansion strategy is increasingly aligned with the Lobito Corridor, a strategic infrastructure route supported by the United States.
This corridor connects:
- Angola (Atlantic export gateway)
- Zambia (copper belt and mineral transit hub)
- DRC (resource extraction base)
Consequently, banking expansion is no longer being driven by national boundaries but by trade flow systems.
Mwangi emphasized in the Reuters interview that expansion decisions are now guided by customers and trade routes rather than geography alone.
This reflects a broader trend identified by the International Finance Corporation, which highlights the growing importance of infrastructure-linked financial ecosystems in emerging markets.
🇦🇴 🇿🇲 🇲🇿 5. Southern Africa Expansion Targets
Equity is actively pursuing acquisition-led entry into three key Southern African markets.
📍 Angola
Angola represents the most advanced target market. The country serves as a strategic Atlantic export gateway for minerals and energy resources.
📍 Zambia
Zambia plays a critical connector role between the DRC and Mozambique, particularly in copper and mineral logistics.
📍 Mozambique
Mozambique provides access to Indian Ocean trade routes and is expected to become Equity’s sixth non-Kenyan subsidiary.
In addition, Mwangi confirmed ongoing high-level engagement with Mozambique’s leadership, reinforcing the strategic importance of the market.
⚖️ 6. Regulatory and Structural Constraints
Despite strong expansion momentum, regulatory differences across African markets continue to shape entry strategy.
Earlier efforts in Ethiopia were slowed by foreign ownership restrictions limiting stakes in local banks, prompting a strategic shift toward Southern Africa.
As a result, Equity has prioritized markets with clearer acquisition pathways and more flexible regulatory environments.
The Bank for International Settlements notes that regulatory fragmentation remains one of the most significant constraints on cross-border banking expansion in emerging economies.
📡 7. Acquisition-Led Growth Strategy
Unlike traditional expansion models, Equity is increasingly favouring acquisitions over greenfield entry.
This strategy is driven by three operational realities:
- Language and cultural differences in new markets
- High cost of establishing new banking infrastructure
- Need for immediate market scale and deposits
As Mwangi explained, acquiring established institutions allows Equity to scale faster while transforming existing operations into regional platforms.
🌍 8. Competitive Landscape Across Africa
Equity’s expansion is unfolding within a highly competitive African banking environment.
Key competitors include:
- Ecobank (pan-African network)
- UBA (United Bank for Africa)
- State-linked financial institutions
- Regional banks expanding cross-border
The World Bank highlights that Africa’s banking sector remains fragmented, with low credit penetration but increasing exposure to sovereign debt across multiple jurisdictions.
⚠️ 9. Risk Environment
While growth prospects remain strong, Equity’s expansion is exposed to structural risks.
These include:
- Currency volatility across Southern Africa
- Regulatory fragmentation between jurisdictions
- Commodity price sensitivity in mining economies
- Macroeconomic instability and political transitions
Nevertheless, the long-term opportunity remains anchored in Africa’s demographic growth, infrastructure investment, and commodity cycles.
🌐 Conclusion: A Shift to Corridor Banking
Equity Group’s Southern Africa expansion reflects a deeper transformation in African finance.
The banking model is evolving from:
- Country-based expansion
➡️ to - Corridor-based financial ecosystems
In this new structure, banks are increasingly aligning with trade routes, commodity flows, and infrastructure networks rather than national boundaries.
Ultimately, Equity is positioning itself not simply as a regional lender, but as a financial institution embedded within Africa’s evolving economic geography.
Commercial Banking
Inside the DRC Banking Rush: Who Is Entering First
Digital banking is enabling faster, lower-cost entry into fragmented financial environments.
Regional banks are racing into the DRC as Equity, KCB, CRDB and others compete for Africa’s fastest-growing banking frontier.
🧠 Inside the DRC Banking Rush: Who Is Entering First
Unlike earlier phases of African banking growth, which focused on domestic consolidation, the current cycle is defined by cross-border competition for underbanked populations and resource-driven economies.
According to the World Bank, the DRC remains one of the least financially included large economies in the world, with banking penetration still below 20% in many estimates. This structural gap is now attracting regional lenders seeking long-term growth.
At the same time, the International Monetary Fund has identified the country as a frontier economy where financial deepening could significantly accelerate formal economic activity.
👉 The result is a competitive entry race—where timing is now a strategic advantage.
🏦 1. The First Movers: East Africa’s Banking Giants
The earliest and most aggressive entrants into the DRC banking landscape include:
- Equity Group Holdings
- KCB Group
- CRDB Bank
- Bank of Kigali
These institutions are not simply opening branches—they are building regional banking ecosystems that integrate retail, SME, and trade finance services across borders.
For example, Equity Group Holdings has positioned the DRC as a strategic growth pillar within its pan-African model, reflecting a shift from national banking to continental banking platforms.
KCB Group has similarly expanded its regional footprint through subsidiaries and partnerships, leveraging cross-border integration to capture trade flows between East and Central Africa.
👉 These early movers are shaping the competitive structure of the market.
💰 2. Why Early Entry Matters
Early entrants typically benefit from:
- First access to corporate clients
- Stronger brand recognition
- Early deposit base accumulation
- Relationship dominance in SME lending
The International Finance Corporation has consistently emphasized that financial institutions entering underserved markets early tend to establish long-term structural advantages, particularly in environments with low competition density.
👉 In the DRC, being first often means shaping the rules of engagement.
📡 3. Digital First Entry: The New Banking Model
Unlike traditional banking expansion, entry into the DRC is increasingly driven by digital infrastructure rather than physical branches.
Banks are deploying:
- Mobile banking platforms
- Agent banking networks
- Integrated fintech partnerships
This approach reduces operational costs while expanding reach into rural and semi-urban populations.
Institutions such as Equity Group Holdings are leveraging digital ecosystems to scale rapidly across fragmented infrastructure environments.
This aligns with insights from the World Bank, which highlights digital financial services as a critical driver of inclusion in low-infrastructure economies.
👉 Digital entry is now the default expansion strategy.
⛏️ 4. Resource-Linked Banking: The Corporate Entry Layer
Beyond retail banking, corporate banking tied to the DRC’s resource sector is a major entry driver.
The country’s vast reserves of copper, cobalt, and gold create high-value financing opportunities for banks in:
- Trade finance
- Commodity-backed lending
- Mining sector project finance
The International Monetary Fund has repeatedly identified the DRC’s resource sector as a key macroeconomic stabiliser and long-term growth driver.
👉 This makes the DRC not just a retail banking opportunity—but a corporate finance frontier.
⚖️ 5. Competition Structure: A Regional Contest
The DRC banking market is now shaped by regional competition rather than isolated expansion.
Key competitive blocs include:
- Kenyan banking groups
- Tanzanian financial institutions
- Rwandan regional banks
Each is targeting overlapping segments:
- Retail deposits
- SME credit
- Trade finance corridors
At the same time, informal financial systems remain dominant in many regions, meaning formal banks must compete against deeply entrenched cash economies.
📉 6. Risk Environment: Why Entry Is Not Simple
Despite strong opportunity, the DRC remains structurally complex.
Key challenges include:
- Currency volatility and dollarisation
- Weak credit information systems
- Infrastructure gaps in financial services
- Regulatory fragmentation
The Bank for International Settlements notes that frontier markets with fragmented regulation and high volatility tend to experience amplified operational risk during rapid financial expansion cycles.
👉 This makes execution capacity as important as market entry.
🌍 7. The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters Regionally
The DRC banking rush is not an isolated event—it is part of a broader East and Central African financial integration process.
It connects directly to:
- Cross-border banking expansion
- Regional trade corridor financing
- Fintech-enabled financial inclusion
- Currency and liquidity interdependence
👉 The DRC is becoming the central node in regional banking integration.
🚀 Conclusion: A Market Defined by First Movers
The DRC banking rush is not about who enters eventually—it is about who establishes dominance early.
First movers are not just entering a market—they are shaping:
- Customer acquisition patterns
- Financial infrastructure
- Competitive pricing structures
- Regional capital flows
As the World Bank and International Monetary Fund both emphasize in different ways, financial deepening in frontier economies is a long-cycle transformation.
👉 In the DRC, that transformation is already underway—and the entry race has begun.
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