Ruto's leadership style draws heavy criticism over its autocratic traits

That President William Ruto’s government has received heavy criticism, especially in the last one year, over his leadership style is not in doubt.

From his style of governance to claims of running a one-man show to being accused of muzzling independent organisations to reports of abductions and being intolerant to those who criticise the Government, Ruto has received all manner of backlash.

The President, who is known for finality in his pronouncements, has also found himself on the receiving end over some of the utterances on critical matters, including his resolve to fund raise in church but that has not disrupted him an ounce.

The recent criticism the President has faced emanated from the Butere Girls saga, over their ‘Echoes of War’ play, which was to be staged during the National Drama and Film festivals about a fortnight ago.

There was outrage over the event, which saw the students teargassed, a situation that attracted condemnation from all and sundry, seen as an attack on children’s creativity and constitutional freedoms and the stifling of the voices of the youth.

A storm of reproach erupted from human rights organisations, political leaders and legal institutions, who condemned the disruption of the girls’ scheduled performance at the event in Nakuru.

The Amnesty International Kenya Director, Irungu Houghton, for instance, said what unfolded was not just a shameful abuse of police authority but a direct assault on constitutional freedoms and by targeting a school play performed by students, the State was criminalising creativity and turning cultural spaces into zones of fear and censorship.

“Teargas was indiscriminately used, all pointing to a worrying pattern of state-sponsored repression of free expression, press freedom and the right to associate,” Houghton said, in a statement when the incident happened.

With International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) – Kenya Chairperson, Protas Saende saying government’s actions in restricting the play sends a harmful message to youth across the country - that their voices, stories, and creativity are not welcome in the national discourse if they challenge the status quo or raise uncomfortable truths.

He said no child should be punished for thinking critically or expressing themselves artistically, adding that Kenya must nurture rather than silence its young minds.

“We are concerned that tear gas was used to disperse the crowds in the presence of children at the drama festival, which undermines the rights and protection of a child as enshrined in Article 53 of the Constitution and the Children’s Act 2022,” Saende said.

Despite the heavy debate on the matter, the President insisted that teachers and parents protect school children from predators who seek to corrupt them with toxic ethnicity and divisive politics.

He said he will stand firm and ensure children are not exploited by individuals who wish to destroy the country, adding that Kenya has more to celebrate than the negativity promoted by some Kenyans.

“I will not allow this nation to go down the drain with the people who are pursuing selfish and narrow interests. Our education system should support all our children to pursue all the interests they have within the curriculum that we have,” he said.

Faced backlash

Similarly, he has faced backlash over the huge amount of money he gives to churches but that has not deterred him.

He said he will not relent on this role to not only build churches but also roads, decent housing, classrooms among other projects he has initiated.

“God has given me a chance to be a builder, and I have built many things. We will continue building many things. We are building classrooms, roads, housing units and more. I must declare, building is part of me.

‘‘I have been building classrooms since I was an MP. Now we are building houses, my target is 500,000… even at State House I’m still building and very many other places,” said Ruto.

When he attended a church service at Jericho Africa Inland Church (AIC) last month, the President said: “Naona mnapata wasiwasi kama tujenge au tusijenge (I see you are concerned on whether we will continue to build or not) … let me tell you tutamuaibisha shetani, shetani hawezi kutuzuia kujenga nchi yetu kujenga makanisa zetu (we will shame the devil, the devil cannot stop us from building our country and churches). Last year, he did not spare the Catholic bishops, who accused his administration of failing to live up to its promises on critical issues affecting Kenyans.

But in a rejoinder, Ruto called on all leaders, clergy, and Kenyans to stick to facts when engaging in public discourse, saying that people can become victims of the things they accuse others of doing.

“Even as we engage in public discourse on matters that are important to the people of Kenya, we must be careful to be factual lest we become victims of the things we accuse others of doing,” said Ruto.

In yet another incident, Ruto asked Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General, Edwin Sifuna to tread carefully or be disciplined. This was about a week ago when I addressed Ruto, expressing his dissatisfaction with actions of some government officials towards Butere Girls students.

“Mr. President, Bishop has told us here that your work is very difficult, and I agree with him; sometimes I wonder how you sleep. But there are times, Mr.President, as the Swahili say ‘mwiba wa kujitakia hauwambiwi pole’ There are people in your government whose keep making mistakes,” he said.

But Ruto warned Sifuna urging him to watch his trajectory, reminding him that he (President), is a founder member of ODM and can choose to take measures against him.

“I have heard Sifuna speaking forcefully. When you talk about my matters, come slowly Sifuna, know that I am the founder of ODM, so proceed cautiously.

‘‘We started this thing. And you know, if you push me too much, I will convene a meeting of ODM’s founding members… if we convene that meeting to discipline you, those of us who started the party. So let’s proceed cautiously,” Ruto uttered.

From last year, against the backdrop of the  Gen Z revolt cases of abductions were reported in the country, with leaders making a call to action, to end the vice.

Leaders urged the President to make good his words that abductions and extrajudicial killings would not be part of his Government and despite such reports during the Gen Z protests, he insisted there were no such cases.

Earlier in the year, Ruto asked the Inspector General of Police and the National Police Service (NPS) to answer questions by Kenyans on reports of abductions, at a time when the whereabouts of the six youths were unknown.

He, however, said that the law will not be applied selectively, even as he urged the youth to promote responsible use of social media.

“The NPS, being an independent body, is able to conduct investigations.

‘‘The law should not apply selectively to keep everybody on the right side of the law,” Ruto said.

Former Public Service Cabinet, Justin Muturi opened a can of worms in January when he came out to criticise the Government over abductions, including his own son, and demanded a stop to these vices but Ruto’s allies urged him to resign from the Government he had been condemning.

“We must own up to our own deficiencies where they have been pointed out and when they occur and therefore … we cannot be saying great things about what a young soul has done and then the next day, we are taking them.

‘‘And they are being taken all over, we do not know where they are or who is taking them. We cannot say we do not know, we are the Government,” he said.

Even before the dust settled, Muturi had another outburst after he claimed that State House has become a ‘crime scene’ where corruption deals are cut, led by President William Ruto, whom he has also branded as ‘irredeemably corrupt and portrayed a dual character’.

“He is quite a dangerous character. I think Ruto is unfit for the position of president. I have no bitterness; this is my honest assessment. When I watch him tell members of the Cabinet that he doesn’t want to see corruption in his government, I always wonder because I know the kind of person he is,” Muturi said in an interview earlier in the month.

In his tell-all, Muturi has stated that critical advisories he issued to the Government when he served as Attorney General were blatantly ignored, despite being against the law.

Key among the advisories that were ignored revolved around cthe omposition of the Cabinet, with Muturi saying that the provisions of law provided in Article 152 were not followed.

There were many advisory opinions not followed for instance at the beginning of this administration, an issue arose about certain officials sitting in the Cabinet and was asked to give an advisory,” he said, in an interview with Citizen TV.

Ruto also attracted a debate in the country during his tour of North Eastern in February after he told off critics of his Government and asserted authority that he knows what he is doing.

He defended his government and reminded critics that he is well schooled and that people criticising his performance have little or no education.

“You do not lecture me on what I should do when you have little education. I have a PhD, and I know what I’m doing!” Ruto uttered.

His concerns were because a section of Kenyans were criticising the livestock vaccination drive without considering the benefits it has, saying the initiative seeks to boost meat and milk exports.

Last month, Ruto accused Muturi as incompetent and as he moved to crack the whip, he also re-assigned roles.

Questions were raised on reshuffles at the Executive, with a section of Kenyans saying recycling the same leaders and expecting results was far-fetched and a case of just scratching the surface.

Saboti Mp, Caleb Amisi observed that frequent reshuffling without considering efficiency and competence encourages insecurity among State officers and urged the President to rethink his strategy, saying that Kenya requires a renaissance.

“Frequent shuffling, reshuffling, and jumbling cabinets at a speed faster than lightning, with no regard to efficiency and competence, encourages insecurity among state officers. It creates the idea of ‘take what you can, the future is not guaranteed,” he said.

 Farmers Party leader, Irungu Nyakera, who was sacked from his position of Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC) this month accused the Kenya Kwanza regime of being intolerant to criticism.

“It is unfortunate that the Kenya Kwanza administration is focusing on politically correct leaders to head government institutions against competence. When I was given the mandate to head both the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) and KICC, there has not been a question about incompetence, corruption and mismanagement, but I have been dismissed,” he told The Standard.

And responding to claims that he will only serve for one term, saying that 2027 will not be any different from other elections before, even as he urged Kenyans to be patient and underscored his political experience.

“I cannot accept threats about the 2027 elections. I was a Member of Parliament for 15 years, Deputy President for 10 years, and now I am President. So what is it that someone can threaten me with? What hasn’t it become?” he posed. 

But Githunguri Mp, Gathoni Wamuchomba responded to the President on her social media platforms, “A good leader listens to all people irrespective of their education background. People without PhD degrees and those who have never stepped in an airport are voters in Kenya too. Kenya needs a woman president. This arrogance and self-regard needs to be sliced.”

Former Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua also criticised Ruto’s leadership style, claiming that he runs the government single-handedly, which he termed as a dangerous style of leadership in this era.

Gachagua said he is not a ‘yes man’ and that is why he disagreed with the President.

“All the government plans you see are by the president; he does it all by himself and has a team called economic advisors. The ministers are ‘flower girls’, they have no say in the country. Even changing the ministers does not amount to anything. It is a one-man show, he says it all, no one questions him,” said Gachagua in December.