President William Ruto has vowed to crack down on protesters while condemning the ‘ongoing destruction of property’ and ‘attacks on police officers. The statement marks one of his most forceful public reactions since taking office.
In a tone laced with frustration and resolve, the Head of State declared that “enough is enough,” insisting that the economic and governance challenges Kenyans are protesting against did not begin with his government.
His remarks, made against the backdrop of nationwide unrest, have drawn mixed reactions, some supportive, others critical, especially as the Kenya Kwanza administration continues to face a storm of discontent that many argue is largely self-inflicted. As the demonstrations swell in scale and intensity, a closer look reveals that the seeds of the crisis were sown by a cocktail of policy missteps, tone-deaf governance, and rising socioeconomic pressure on an already burdened population.
Ruto’s statement, which was issued in the midst of growing protests across the country, blamed opposition figures, civil society, and “economic saboteurs” for inciting unrest. He emphasized that the current hardships are not new, pointing out that past administrations have also grappled with debt, unemployment, and inflation.
However, this framing has done little to defuse tensions. Instead, it has been met with skepticism, as many Kenyans feel that their suffering has deepened under the Kenya Kwanza regime, exacerbated by decisions they perceive as out of touch, exploitative, or simply incompetent.
Since the introduction of the Finance Act 2023, later suspended by the courts and again revived in altered forms, Ruto’s administration has pursued an aggressive revenue-raising agenda. The act introduced sweeping new taxes, including levies on housing, fuel, and digital transactions, all of which have drastically increased the cost of living.
The public outrage over these measures was immense and immediate, igniting months of demonstrations led by opposition leader Raila Odinga and civil society activists. Although the administration justified the taxes as necessary for self-sufficiency and development, many viewed them as punishing the common mwananchi while shielding the elite.
Adding fuel to the fire has been the administration’s penchant for luxury even as it asks citizens to tighten their belts. Ruto’s frequent foreign travel, acquisition of high-end vehicles for government officials, and the bloated size of his Cabinet and numerous advisors have become symbolic of what critics call “state opulence amid public suffering.”
The optics of government excess at a time of mass layoffs, skyrocketing food prices, and youth unemployment have not gone unnoticed. They have, in fact, become rallying points for protest slogans and online activism, further widening the trust deficit between the state and its citizens.
President To Crack Down On Protesters Amidst Concerns On Bad Governance
One of the most controversial policies under Ruto’s watch has been the housing levy, which was pitched as a path to affordable housing for ordinary Kenyans. Deductions from already meager salaries, compulsory and without immediate visible benefits, angered many. For those in the informal sector, the lack of clarity on how the program would accommodate their contributions made it even more suspect.
The public questioned the transparency and accountability mechanisms put in place, especially as Kenya continues to grapple with persistent reports of corruption in major government projects. Moreover, the fact that citizens are being forced to finance a program without direct consultation or opt-out provisions only deepened resentment.
Education has not been spared either. The controversial rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), a legacy of the previous regime but now under the Kenya Kwanza watch, has left parents and teachers overwhelmed. Underfunded schools, poor infrastructure, and unclear guidelines have frustrated implementation. University students have also decried new funding models that have left many unsure of how they will continue their education. These moves, combined with rising school fees, have intensified public dissatisfaction, especially among low-income families.
Healthcare reforms have also come under scrutiny. The introduction of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), intended to replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), was criticised for being rushed and lacking clarity. Medical professionals, insurance experts, and rights groups raised alarms about the potential exclusion of millions of vulnerable Kenyans and the lack of comprehensive stakeholder engagement. Many fear the move may weaken rather than strengthen access to affordable healthcare, especially for rural and marginalised communities.
Meanwhile, the government’s handling of the youth has been both paradoxical and disappointing. While Ruto promised to prioritise youth empowerment, especially through the Hustler Fund, critics argue that the fund is more of a public relations gimmick than a functional economic solution.
The amounts disbursed are too little to establish meaningful businesses, and repayment terms are harsh. With rising unemployment and no comprehensive strategy to stimulate job creation, frustrations among Kenya’s youth have reached a boiling point, making them the backbone of the current protests. Their chants and placards echo a generation that feels betrayed, unheard, and left behind.
President Ruto’s criticism of protests as disruptive and instigated by external enemies also misses a crucial point: these demonstrations are largely spontaneous and driven by genuine public anger. What began as structured calls by the opposition has now morphed into decentralised, organic movements propelled by young Kenyans using digital platforms like TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. They are leaderless, fearless, and resolute, pointing to a tectonic shift in Kenya’s civic space. These are not merely political stunts—they are expressions of deep frustration with a system perceived as exploitative and elitist.
Ruto’s assertion that “the problems have always been there” might be factually accurate, but politically and morally, it lacks the nuance required of a leader seeking to unite a divided nation. Kenyans did not elect him to echo the failures of past regimes; they chose him because he sold himself as a transformational figure, a hustler who understood their daily struggles. His campaign promises, affordable food, jobs, dignity for low-income earners, and bottom-up economic empowerment, are now being measured against his performance. By that measure, many feel let down.
Crack Down On Protesters Shows Government’s Intolerance To Criticism
Another glaring issue is the administration’s intolerance to criticism. From arrests of online dissenters to police brutality during demonstrations, Kenya Kwanza has adopted tactics reminiscent of the very regimes it once opposed. Civil liberties are under strain, with journalists, bloggers, and whistleblowers reporting harassment.
This authoritarian drift is deeply concerning in a country known for its robust democratic traditions. The use of excessive force to quell protests, especially among schoolchildren and unarmed youth, has sparked outrage both locally and internationally, further tarnishing the image of a government that once promised open, accountable leadership.
Moreover, the administration’s public communication strategy has left much to be desired. While Ruto himself is articulate, many of his allies and senior government officials have repeatedly made tone-deaf remarks that aggravate public anger. From mocking the poor to dismissing protesters as idlers, such statements only widen the emotional and psychological gap between the government and its people. Instead of bridging divides, the language used by Kenya Kwanza officials often fuels them.
To be fair, not all challenges facing Kenya are of the administration’s making. Global economic headwinds, climate change-induced droughts and floods, and a public debt crisis inherited from previous governments have certainly limited Ruto’s options. However, the choices his government has made in response, especially the burdening of ordinary citizens with additional taxes while sparing the elite, suggest a misplaced sense of priorities.
The decision to protect luxury consumption, large-scale government spending, and bloated administrative costs, even as the masses cry out, is not only tone-deaf but also politically disastrous.
While President Ruto’s “enough is enough” stance may resonate with his core base, it risks alienating a broader section of the population who feel unheard and overburdened. The protests sweeping across Kenya are not just a rejection of current policy, they are a referendum on broken promises and a call for justice, equity, and transparency.
If the Kenya Kwanza administration does not shift course and begin to listen, reform, and respond with empathy, the tide of resistance may only rise. What is unfolding across Kenya today is not just about politics; it is about survival, dignity, and the right to be heard. The Kenya Kwanza government must realise that much of the anger it now faces was not imported or instigated; it was created within. As such, critics say the president’s threats to crack down on protesters are ill-advised.
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