President's blunders in front of foreign dignitaries keep piling up

President William Ruto during an event in Nairobi's Embakasi East area in 2018. [File, Standard] President William Ruto has repeatedly embarrassed himself and the country by giving answers that are neither accurate nor factual while responding to questions from journalists at his meetings with foreign dignitaries, either visiting Kenya or during his travels outside the country. Political analysts argue that such awkward moments can be avoided through proper briefing and preparation before the president fields routine questions that are always expected at such meetings. Some blame it on the quick responses he makes without pausing to give a more appropriate answer. The president's handlers should by now have known that media sessions are increasingly becoming mandatory because leaders must not only be held accountable for their actions but they must also give necessary direction on policy implementation and evaluation. Last week, the president confidently told journalists accompanying a visiting delegation from Finland that all victims of abductions who disappeared after the June 2024 protests have been released and reunited with their families. The factual misrepresentation was debunked a few hours later by human rights groups who released a long of missing persons before the President of Finland and his delegation left the country. A UDA politician told the Sunday Standard, they are also concerned about the briefing the president gets because such questions can be dealt with through giving general answers without delving into specifics. "Why not just say police have told me they will ensure that anyone abducted is accounted for, but the government does not condone any abductions," says the MP, who sought anonymity. The president is now being seen as a callous and insensitive leader by leaders, among them Murang'a Senator Joe Nyutu, who says Ruto's statement was an admission of guilt because it shows he knew those who carried out the abductions. Nyutu said the president was telling lies that all abductees have been released, describing it as a very sad situation. He added that by saying it will never happen again, Ruto admitted he knows the perpetrators. "Police have denied abducting people, but he now says it will not happen again. That means it is the police who are going to deal with culprits, yet none have ever been arrested. In a nutshell, he is telling Kenyan police will be instructed not to do it again," says Nyutu. Human Rights agencies under the Vocal Africa group and former Chief Justice David Maraga are equally agitated by Ruto's statements: "VOCAL Africa takes note of President Ruto's statement issued yesterday, in which he asserted that all the people who disappeared or who were abducted have been brought back to their families." They described the statement as not only inaccurate but deeply dismissive of the lived realities of families still searching for their loved ones months after they disappeared or were abducted during the Gen Z-led protests that began in June 2024. VOCAL Africa insisted that many victims remain unaccounted for, including: Emmanuel Mukuria, disappeared in Githurai on June 25, 2024; Dennis Chege, abducted in Nairobi's CBD on the same day; Peter Macharia, last seen in the CBD on June 25, 2024; Martin Mbisi and Kalani Muema, both abducted in Mlolongo on December 17, 2024. Maraga also criticised President Ruto's remarks, calling for accountability mechanisms which are currently not in place, while describing the President's statement as deeply hurtful to victims and their families. "It is unconscionable to hear the President claim, without any apology to the victims, parents, and families, that there are no ongoing incidents of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, and that accountability mechanisms are in effect," said Maraga. Last year, President Ruto invited journalists to State House and shockingly told the country that a young boy, Kennedy Onyango who was shot eight times by police in Rongai during the anti-Finance Bill protests, survived the attack. A journalist asked him what he had to tell parents of the boy, to which he responded: "He is still alive, right? No, the boy died, the journalist responded. The president's answer generated furious comments on social media for weeks, many saying he either lacked empathy or had not been properly briefed. Nairobi politician Philip Kisia, who has vast experience in international relations and diplomacy,y is perturbed at how the president continues to expose the country's image and himself to serious embarrassment. "Any information released by a head of State, be it in an interview or a press briefing, must not only be factual but should also be verifiable, especially now that we live in the information age where fact-checking is done in seconds with a click of a button," says Kisia. Pundits also say it is unfathomable that the president's handlers slept on the job and humiliated the president, when he is in the company of a leader from Finland, a country which does not condone telling lies, hate and a lack of respect for life. They also frown at personal accomplishments and how much money an individual acquires. Kisia argues that it is wrong for the president to address journalists without getting a proper briefing because he then falls into the trap of uttering statements that may not be different from those he is used to making at rallies and village meetings around the country. He expects the president to differentiate between addressing a village group on a busy market, where people stop and listen to him because they have nothing to do, and when he addresses journalists seeking information to publish. The president should also know that a written word never fades and whatever he says will be read by many generations to come. "Does he also get briefed by the National Intelligence Service and line ministries to prepare and get answers for the kind of questions that are likely to be asked before appearing meetings with international and local media?" asks Kisia. Two years ago, when the president took office, he quickly developed a profile of a progressive leader on the African continent whose forward-looking agenda could help the youth achieve their dreams of better governance, free trade and African renaissance. He also drew applause for his climate change agenda. He also emerged as the darling of the West, especially the United States, Great Britain and France, countries he frequently visited at short intervals, including the US State visit where he was feted with a State dinner by former President Joe Biden. It is now argued that some of those engagements were done without proper foreign policy advice, when he appeared to frown at Chinese loans for mega-development projects. Barely a year later, projects signed with countries like the Rironi-Mau Summit super highway handed to France have since been re-assigned to China. A famous US President once said the US has no friends, only interests. The UK and EU countries learned that recently when President Donald Trump slapped them with high tariffs. Earlier, the UK had struggled to get a free trade agreement with the US after BREXIT because of tough demands from their long-considered ally. Kisia thinks the input of experts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is never sought before President Ruto makes some bilateral commitments, mostly when dealing with dangerous groups like Sudan's Rapid Defence Forces (RSF), because he has political appointees in the department. Prof Gitile Naituli of the Multi-Media University also rates the politically appointed diplomats very poorly because he thinks they have very scant understanding of the power games in national interest diplomacy and as such, they are easily arm-twisted or corrupted. It has been argued that the RSF for example have been easy access into the country's corridors of power because of what they are offering in exchange, as they get arms through Kenya to advance their war against the Sudan National Army (SNA) at the expense of Kenya's coffee and tea exports to the north-east African country. It has also been argued strongly that Kenya's failure to chart a clear diplomatic course made BRICS countries become reluctant to admit it to the bloc that now has Ethiopia, South Africa and Egypt as members, with Uganda's admission now under consideration. Political analysts further argue that the president also lacks sound advice on foreign policy because most of the diplomats appointed do not have any experience in foreign affairs and diplomacy. Senior staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are either ignored or retired when their input could be invaluable. It also looks like there is no end to Ruto's controversies and criticism, with more trouble coming out of his recent State visit to China, where he attacked the Western financial system while addressing students at Peking University. The visit is now under scrutiny from the US Senate, where lawmakers are raising questions about Kenya's allegiance, just months after the country was designated a major non-NATO ally, a status that very few third-world countries in the world enjoy. In his hard-hitting speech, the president described the current global system as "broken and no longer fit for purpose". The president's protocol handlers have also been accused severally of placing the Kenyan flag upside down at his functions in foreign countries. It happened during his first visit to China, after Ruto's digital team shared several photos showing the President in the company of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President and Board of Directors Chairman Jin Liqun and other bank officials. It was reported that while the President was enjoying a chat with Liqun, the table arrangement was a little off - the Kenyan flag was shamelessly placed upside down. KTN journalist Ali Manzu posted on his X account: "Mr President @WilliamsRuto, our flag is upside down. Kindly, next time check, it's the second time this is happening."

President's blunders in front of foreign dignitaries keep piling up

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