Wamuzi News Ke
President William Ruto today launched a blistering public rebuke at former Chief Justice David Maraga, dismissing his warning that Kenya is “on the verge of being a failed state.” Speaking at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), Ruto framed Maraga’s characterization as not only inaccurate but dangerously pessimistic—especially coming from someone seeking the presidency.
“I listened to one gentleman who retired the other day after working for 40, 50 years, and he wants to be President. I listen to him saying Kenya is a failed state,” the President said, expertly cutting through Maraga’s declarations. “I ask myself, so for 40 years you have been working in a failed state? You want to be president of a failed state?”
The President didn’t leave room for ambiguity. He pressed the former CJ: “You want us to entrust you with the leadership of a country that you don’t believe in?” His tone carried more than rhetorical flourish—it served as a rallying cry to remind citizens that, in his view, Kenya is prospering.
Ruto defended the economy, pointing to “ongoing investments” and mentioning that the NSE was recognized last year as Africa’s best-performing stock exchange—clear evidence, he said, that Kenya’s institutions are flourishing, not failing.
But Ruto’s counterattack goes deeper than numbers. His remarks came just two days after Maraga’s hard-hitting interview on K24, where the former Chief Justice painted a grim picture—with claims of rampant suppression of civil rights, violent crackdowns on protesters, and a breakdown of democratic norms.
Maraga sharply criticized the government’s recent harsh tactics, including claims that security forces were “clamping down” on constitutionally protected protest rights and carrying out unlawful abductions and killings. He questioned President Ruto’s directive for police to shoot protestors in the legs—warning it could lead to fatalities despite intended intentions.
The intensity of both men’s messages underscores a deepening rift—representing the broader national fault line between state officials bent on projecting stability and civic leaders accusing the administration of straying into authoritarianism.
What this bitter exchange means:
- A bleak national climate – With recurrent protests and security crackdowns, Maraga’s remarks resonated with citizens concerned about shrinking democratic space.
- A political duel ahead – Ruto’s scorched-earth response signals he views Maraga not just as a critic, but a direct political threat in looming elections.
- Democratic values under strain – The clash over state legitimacy is less theoretical and more existential, with each side staking out its interpretation of Kenya’s future direction—one grounded in institutional legitimacy, the other in freedoms and human rights.
As the head of state battles the message from a respected former Chief Justice, the public will watch closely: will Ruto’s economic and institutional rallying cry gain traction—or will Maraga’s alarms reverberate more powerfully?
Expect these lines of rhetorical fire to define Kenya’s political discourse in 2025, as competing visions of statehood and democracy collide ahead of the next electoral cycle.
