The President is losing control of the narrative

President William Ruto’s attacks on impeached deputy president exposes political vulnerability. In the high-stakes arena of power, real and assured leadership is often exercised privately under a collective leadership within a cabinet.

The fact that President Ruto has chosen to address Rigathi Gachagua’s accusations so directly signals that he is losing control of the narrative despite the brave face. Political commentators opine that naming an adversary grants them legitimacy that they do not necessarily deserve in a democracy. There is a difference between authoritarian and democratic rules.

This is why figures like Vladimir Putin never publicly acknowledge their challengers. Even as opposition leader Alexei Navalny shook the foundations of Russian politics, Putin maintained an eerie silence, treating Navalny as though he did not exist. That is how total control in authoritarian societies manifests itself. We are not such a society. Kenya is governed by a democratic constitution, not an authoritarian one man show.

Ruto’s leadership does not respect the dictates of our Constitution. Rather than allow his ministers and parliamentary leadership take governance debates to their rightful arenas, he has directly engaged with Gachagua’s allegations, purporting to answer him directly in unconvincing responses. His loud, public rebuttals suggest a leadership unable to maintain a semblance of democratic tolerance in a nation supposed to be governed by rule of law. He has lowered the prestige and dignity of the Office of the President.

When a sitting president engages in direct confrontations with former allies such as the former DP, it typically indicates a deeper struggle behind the scenes. Power, when stable, does not need to be loudly defended as was the case before the 2010 Constitution. Indeed even before the adoption of the 2010 Constitution, we never witnessed the kind of leadership style exhibited by President Ruto. Former President Moi never openly attacked his deputy, George Saitoti, despite internal tensions.

Mwai Kibaki, known for his measured leadership, never engaged in public squabbles with Kalonzo Musyoka or Raila Odinga when they broke ranks. Even Uhuru Kenyatta, in his fallout with Ruto, initially maintained a strategic distance before making calculated, although eventually unsuccessful moves. They understood their limitations imposed by their oaths of office. Ruto’s public defensiveness suggests that the centre is not holding. The fact that he has to directly address Gachagua’s claims means that the former deputy is effectively setting part of the political agenda. Instead of maintaining quiet leadership, Ruto is reacting, trying to regain ground in a conversation slipping away from him. The nature of political power in a functional rule-of-law based society is such that real battles are fought in private or cabinet meetings.

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Costly crowd cheers: How MPs mobilised crowds for Ruto tour
• 
  Khalwale accuses Ruto of betraying Western region
• 
  Successful Tour?
• 
  Goons disrupt service at PCEA Kasarani attended by Gachagua

Once they spill into the public domain, it often means internal mechanisms have failed. Ruto’s presidency appears to be entering a phase where internal cohesion is fraying, forcing him to take the fight public in an attempt to shape perception. He is not succeeding.

The loudest person in the room is rarely the most powerful. By responding so aggressively to Gachagua, Ruto is inadvertently signalling that his political calculations are no longer as firm as they once seemed. His presidency is fighting to stay in control — not just of the country, but of the ruling coalition itself. Democratic leaders dictate the narrative from behind the scenes. They do not engage in public brawls with former allies. If Ruto continues down this path, he risks further eroding his authority. The talks of “one term” presidency are no longer far-fetched.

-The writer is lawyer and former MP