President Ruto Back to Campaigns as the Country Falls Apart
Gullibility, blindness, eating and sleeping in deceit, what else shall I describe Kenyans. Calling the electorate naïve is an understatement, but we all know Kenyan electorate is worse that a child who still can’t pronounce a single word. Perhaps I should say education of the mind is not a language Kenyans know. Should I blame the current administration for continuous lies, or the citizens for being blinded? I don’t know for sure, so I’ll just write…
The presidency of William Ruto has been marked by soaring promises, global excursions, and a litany of excuses for the apparent shortcomings of his administration. With more than 17 months in office, it is imperative to scrutinize the performance of the Ruto government and evaluate the extent to which campaign pledges have translated into tangible achievements.
President Ruto’s Promises vs. Reality
The Ruto administration entered office with grand promises, pledging transformative change and a better future for Kenyans. However, the yawning gap between rhetoric and reality has become increasingly evident. The citizens, who were promised the moon, find themselves grappling with unfulfilled expectations. As I may put it, “The promises made during campaigns are fading into the realm of wishful thinking, leaving Kenyans disillusioned and betrayed.”
International Jetsetter: Governance from 30,000 Feet
A striking aspect of Ruto’s presidency has been his extensive international travels, raising eyebrows among Kenyans who question the efficacy of leading a nation from the confines of an airplane. With at least 47 international trips in just over 500 days, concerns have been raised about the president’s priorities and the efficacy of his governance style. Online criticism abounds, with Kenyans expressing frustration at the perception that their leader is more focused on global hobnobbing than addressing domestic issues.
Notable social media commentaries capture the sentiment, with one user remarking, “Kenya is not run from the clouds; we need a president grounded in the issues that affect us daily, not one crisscrossing the globe like a frequent flyer.” This sentiment reflects the growing frustration among Kenyans who feel disconnected from a leader seemingly more interested in international diplomacy than in addressing local challenges.
Blame Games and Inherited Woes
Should I call it incompetence? Perhaps you’ll agree with me…. But loyalists of the prolonged klie would term me a hater. Can you tell me why the Ruto administration is the persistent blame game, particularly directed towards the former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Cabinet Secretaries like Moses Kuria and elected Members of Parliament such as Kimani Ichungwa and Ndindi Nyoro have consistently attributed the government’s failures to an alleged inheritance of a flawed system.
This scapegoating strategy, however, has been met with skepticism. “While blaming the past administration may be convenient, it is ultimately a shallow narrative that fails to address the current government’s responsibility to deliver on its promises.”
Economic Turmoil: Downward Spiral and Global Excuses
The economic landscape under Ruto’s presidency has been far from promising. The Kenyan economy has experienced its worst downturn, with the currency plummeting to unprecedented lows. The blame, however, is shifted to external factors, with the Ukraine-Russia war cited as a global trigger for the country’s economic woes.
This narrative, however, falls flat when compared to neighboring countries like Tanzania, where fuel prices have decreased. Kenyans are left wondering why their leaders continue to attribute local economic challenges to global events while failing to implement effective domestic solutions, for it was not until recently, that we saw a fall, but just by a margin in fuel prices. Perhaps that’s why Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba thanks the ‘global factors’, and not the government she’s part of.
Campaigns Amidst Crisis: A Distraction or a Solution?
Be it as it may, the most baffling aspect of the Ruto administration is the inclination towards political campaigning amidst economic turmoil. Instead of focusing on stabilizing the economy, President Ruto is actively engaged in garnering political support for his alleged achievements. It’s perplexing to witness the president atop cars, touting achievements while the economy teeters on the brink. Are we witnessing genuine progress or merely a distraction from the pressing issues at hand?
