Nairobi, May 6 -- Kenya has always had a flair for the performative. We carry ourselves with the swagger of a regional hegemon, convinced that our tech hubs and skyscrapers make us the undisputed adult in the room of East Africa.

We are a nation that prides itself in being an open sanctuary for all Africans, a place where global commerce meets continental hospitality. But as the 2027 General Election approaches, a familiar, unsightly crack is appearing in our sophisticated veneer. We are remarkably hospitable to the world, yet we still haven't quite learned how to be hospitable to each other.

If you want a glimpse of what political adulthood actually looks like, look no further than the recent scenes in Kisumu. Traditionally branded by ...