The Kenyan president, William Ruto, has made quite a reputation in the international platform within two years of his presidency. He is greatly admired by international climate activists, has engaged with global technology giants and is greatly applauded for his peace initiatives by the White House. However, amidst his various international trips, the Kenyan citizenry has suffered intense economic strain. The living cost crisis has grown worse and grievances over political elites enjoying the advantages of their positions have risen.
When Ruto attempted to implement considerable tax increases, the public strongly resisted, leading to protests that are believed to have claimed the lives of approximately 23 individuals. The reactions to the populace’s uproar feature security forces using tear gas and live bullets and the parliament being assaulted.
The international persona of Ruto as a charismatic voice for not only Kenya but also Africa at large starkly contrasts with the severe realities experienced within his country – battles with corruption, debt burdens and security issues. This predicament has significantly weakened his standing domestically. His administration is divided in its reaction, while his adversaries seize upon public dissatisfaction, aiming to capitalise on it in the 2027 elections, according to political analysts and politicians.
Willy Mutunga, Kenya’s former chief justice, observed that Ruto’s administration, deeply tied to and supported by foreign interests, was bound to face repercussions since its focus and interests aren’t pro-people. He implied that unless the needs of the young people are catered to, the divide would keep on expanding.
Despite efforts made to reach them, a representative for Ruto has yet to provide any comment.
With its robust economy and democracy, Kenya has steadily been augmenting its international role. However, if domestic concerns aren’t addressed more robustly by Ruto, Western nations risk their important African ally losing focus on their battle against escalating influence from Russia and China in Africa. This comes at a time of widespread protests all over Kenya, even Ruto’s home turf of Eldoret. Observers believe his administration is battling for its existence.
Ruto proposed a conversation to reassure demonstrators, but it remains indistinct whether that proposition would be accepted or with whom the discussions will take place. He’s also faced with the task of devising a fresh strategy to address Kenya’s financial woes; a strategy that may be hard to propose, given the fiscal reductions required to fulfil the prerequisites of international financiers for upcoming capital.
“The nationwide protests may simmer down, but these acts of civil disobedience clearly symbolise a generational game-changer,” stated Declan Galvin, the administrative director of Exigent Risk Advisory based in Nairobi. “Ruto undoubtedly needs to alter his political stance to accommodate the requirements of the public, maintaining his political existence since the following election is still a long way off.”
Ruto’s got a fierce commitment to work, but still grapples with an indictment from the International Criminal Court for his involvement in violence following the 2007-8 elections, even though the ICC discontinued the case.
Gabrielle Lynch, who’s an authority on Kenyan affairs at Warwick University in the UK, mentioned Ruto as an “extraordinary performer”, capable of presenting facts and statistics for benefactors and adjusting his demeanour and tone for a domestic gathering on the same day. “It’s as if presenting himself as a global leader will help him gain local validity and dismiss his label as a local inciter of violence.”
Highlighting his extensive travelling, Ruto had totalled 62 trips to 38 different countries within his initial 20 months in office, as cited by Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper.
However, whilst at home, Ruto seemed insensitive to grievances concerning the nation’s trajectory, according to sources in regular communication with his office.
Despite Ruto portraying himself as a defender of low-income “hustlers”, his adversaries have since assigned him ‘Zakayo’, the Swahili designation for a money-grubbing tax collector from biblical times. Videos of politicians displaying their affluence during the proliferating protests have widely been circulated. Residences and enterprises owned by politicians supporting the tax increment have also been targeted.
Mutula Kilonzo Jr., an opposition member and governor of Makueni County, stated that the audacious haughtiness of government officials have stirred dissatisfaction.
The World Bank and International Monetary Fund have faced criticism for being linked to Ruto’s financial policy choices. Ruto has been under pressure to find a new solution to handle Kenya’s debt, approximately $80 billion, which equates to around 70% of the country’s GDP, after retracting his original decision to increase taxes.
Under the presidency of Ruto, Kenya’s ties with the United States have strengthened. Nonetheless, there have been complaints that this warm relationship has overshadowed the understanding about Kenya’s difficulties in Washington. The support of the United States has been paramount in combating Islamist extremists in Somalia. Furthermore, Ruto’s visit to the US in May represented the first by an African leader in more than a decade and a half.
Ruto’s close connection with Meg Whitman, the former CEO of eBay and Hewlett Packard and now US ambassador to Kenya, has been attributed to an increase in investments from foreign nations, particularly American tech firms, according to Nairobi-based diplomats.
However, prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has criticised the US’s response to the violence in Kenya. He claimed the call made by Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, to Ruto was inadequate and urged Washington to adopt a more stringent stance. A spokesperson from the US State Department emphasised the call made by its embassy in Nairobi for restraint and respect of constitutional rights.
Mwangi mentioned his suggestion to the US embassy the preceding week to utilise their influence on the President to encourage him to engage with increasing grassroots protest movements, lamenting that it took loss of life for action to be taken. His concerns include the misconception of a ‘charm and glow’ persona neglecting the ‘iron fist in a velvet glove’ reality.
– As reported by Reuters. All rights are owned by Thomson Reuters 2024.