United Democratic Alliance Secretary General Hassan Omar was on Sunday, May 24, forced to clarify his recent remarks and apologise after mounting political pressure over remarks linked to ethnic politics, which have caused uproar.

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In a statement on Sunday, Omar said his comments had been misinterpreted and taken out of context, insisting that they were never intended to demean, offend, or target any community.

Omar maintained that throughout his career, he has remained committed to the unity, dignity and rights of all Kenyans.

"My comments were never intended to demean, offend, or target any community," he stated.

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"Throughout my public life, I have remained firmly committed to upholding the dignity, rights, and unity of all Kenyans. The remarks in question were made within the context of my long-standing advocacy on historical land injustices affecting the Coastal region, and were never intended to promote division, hostility, or animosity among communities," he added.

However, he acknowledged that some leaders and members of the public, particularly from Central Kenya, may have felt offended by his remarks, expressing regret over the misunderstanding.

“To all those who may have been offended, I sincerely regret the misunderstanding and extend my apology ,” the statement read in part.

His statement comes after the UDA SG experienced pressure from leaders across the political divide, who accused him of fueling ethnic division, something that would likely cause chaos in the country ahead of the 2027 elections.

Among those who called Omar out is the Kirinyaga governor, Anne Waiguru, who accused him of engaging in ethnic baiting and divisive rhetoric.

Waiguru further warned against what he termed as attempts to isolate communities along ethnic lines, arguing that such narratives threaten national unity and democratic stability, asking Omar to apologise.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke