Wamuzi News Ke
In a blistering address this week, President William Ruto challenged opponents and Gen Z protesters with the provocative question: “Kisirani ya nini?”—or “Why wasn’t there mass protest against former President Kibaki?” His comments, delivered amid growing civil unrest, have reignited outrage over state repression and double standards.
Ruto’s remarks came as protests across Kenya intensified, driven by the unjust death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody and a rising body count. Public anger has surged over police brutality, ballooning living costs, and unfulfilled campaign promises. Analysts warn that his refusal to confront these realities risks further eroding public trust.
During a televised speech, Ruto dismissed criticism by highlighting continuity among Kenya’s presidents—Moi, Kibaki, Uhuru—as if to suggest past leaders were undeserving of protest. “They’re telling me all sorts of things… before Moi was Kenyatta. After Moi came Kibaki, after Kibaki came Uhuru. So what’s all this noise?” he said, adding that claims against him were “nonsense.”
The president’s tone shifted sharply as he vowed to quell unrest at any cost. He directed police to shoot rioters in the leg, a measure widely condemned as state-sanctioned violence. That directive followed the killing of at least 31 protesters in a single day and a total death toll exceeding 50, according to official tallies.
Political reactions were swift and scathing. ODM Secretary‑General Edwin Sifuna accused Ruto of normalising lethal force under the guise of discipline—triggered by the case of protester Rex Masai, shot in the leg. He joined wider calls for Ruto to resign, branding his governance authoritarian and detached. Former VP Kalonzo Musyoka, along with other opposition leaders, has demanded Ruto’s removal, saying his rhetoric violates the constitution.
Analysts emphasize that Ruto’s gambit may backfire. His scripted conflation of previous presidents with current dissent ignores deep generational divides and systemic failures. Kenya’s militant Gen Z, highly networked and politically astute, view his dismissal of their demands as evidence of elite complacency. Experts warn that unless dialogue replaces repression, investor confidence and his own re-election prospects may suffer irreparably.
Human rights groups and UN officials have condemned the government’s forceful response, warning that civilian injuries and fatalities—including of bystanders—are mounting. They have urged a return to proportionate law enforcement and a re-engagement with protesters’ grievances.
At the heart of the crisis:
- Ruto’s scathing comparison with past presidents has failed to acknowledge current economic pain and popular frustration.
- His shoot‑in‑the‑leg order heralds an escalation in state violence at a moment when protesters already report dozens of deaths.
- Opposition leaders are mounting legal and political challenges against his directives, calling for full accountability.
As the nation stands at a volatile crossroads, Ruto’s challenge—“Kisirani ya nini?”—may reveal less about Kenya’s past and more about its present fracture. With protests showing no sign of abating, the presidency now faces a critical choice: confront dissent with dialogue, or escalate confrontation with lasting political peril.
