Three months after shocking Kenyans by suddenly quitting politics, lawyer and activist Morara Kebaso has spoken out about the emotional toll that drove him away from the spotlight.
Kebaso, who had once styled himself as the face of a Gen Z political uprising, stunned his supporters on June 23 when he declared he was abandoning his 2027 presidential ambitions.
His exit came barely weeks after launching his manifesto and unveiling his political party, the Injection of National Justice, Economic and Civic Transformation (INJECT).
“I have finally left politics. Now I can live my life, run my business, make my money, travel the world, see my friends and visit a bar without worrying about being photographed. Now I’m free,” he posted on X at the time.
Scars of Digital Bullying
In a candid video message released on October 2, Kebaso admitted that relentless trolling left him wounded and drained.
“If you know you trolled me when I was trying to make a change in this country, you caused me an immeasurable amount of pain and dragged my reputation through the sewer,” he said.
“You insulted me with confidence, yet you don’t know me in person. I haven’t healed. But I will.”
He explained that at first, he tried to ignore the online abuse, but it eventually spilled over into his family WhatsApp groups, becoming unbearable.
Betrayal and Exhaustion
Kebaso revealed that some of the deepest cuts came from betrayal by the very people he thought he was fighting for.
“Many called me a conman and a beggar. Yet the truth is I spent more of my personal money than the contributions I received. I even used my savings to travel 29,000 kilometres across 34 counties — something nobody else has done,” he lamented.
The weight of constant insults, he added, “clipped his wings” and robbed him of energy. Stepping away, he said, was the only way to reclaim his freedom.
A Possible Return?
While he did not categorically say whether he plans to rejoin politics, Kebaso hinted that the story may not be over.
“The consequences of us failing to make the changes we should have made will be more painful on those who trolled me than on me. That I am sure of,” he warned.
Kenyans React
His confessions stirred mixed reactions online. Some dismissed his complaints as weakness.
“Mambo ya mtandao ukiweka kwa roho utasurvive kweli?” one user asked.
Others urged him to learn resilience from seasoned politicians. “Baba (Raila Odinga) has been insulted since the advent of social media,” another remarked.
Still, some sympathised with his struggle. “All is not lost. Learn and come out forged like a new sword. Uko tayari?” a supporter encouraged.
The Road Ahead
Whether Morara Kebaso will rise again in politics remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: the once-fiery Gen Z figure admits he is still in recovery, carrying scars from Kenya’s brutal political battlefield.
“I haven’t healed,” he said softly, before adding with conviction: “But I will.”
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Politics