Why Ruto should earn, not inherit a second term

In a democracy, no leader is entitled to power beyond the mandate freely given by the people. But here in Kenya, a troubling narrative has been gaining traction among President William Ruto’s close allies that he must be granted a second term simply because his predecessors, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, each served two terms. This mindset is not only ahistorical and anti-democratic but is also deeply flawed and insulting to the intelligence and sovereignty of the Kenyan voter.

The Constitution is clear: A president is elected for a five-year term, renewable once through a fresh election. There is no automatic entitlement to a second term, only an opportunity to earn it through delivery on promises, accountability, and the will of the people. But this is where Ruto’s allies have veered dangerously off course. They have reduced the presidency to a birthright, not a duty of service. It is being treated as an inheritance passed within political precedent, rather than a position earned through performance and bound by a social contract with the Kenyan people. Their obsession with consolidating power has blinded them to the suffering of ordinary citizens as they shamelessly weaponise loyalty and sycophancy over service. In their world, public office is no longer about public good, but about securing personal gain, shielding impunity, and feeding a political class so addicted to privilege that they would rather rewrite the rules than respect the Constitution and electorate’s voice.

During the 2022 presidential campaigns, then-candidate Ruto made sweeping promises and bold commitments. He pledged to focus on delivering tangible results in his first term and declared that the question of a second term would be left entirely to the Kenyan people, based solely on his performance. These were not vague campaign sentiments or empty rhetoric, they were specific, measurable pledges that Kenyans must now use as a template to score his performance. Anything less would amount to letting political theatrics overshadow accountability.

To the masses, Ruto’s campaign felt like a refreshing break from the entitled, parasitic political class that had long thrived on exclusion. By invoking the language of hustlers and promising a bottom-up economic model tailored to uplift the majority at the base of the pyramid, he tapped into genuine public frustration. Yet, barely three years in, that promise lies in ruins, and has since been replaced by the same old politics of patronage, greed, and impunity. Ruto’s inner circle, from senior UDA officials to vocal MPs, have begun to aggressively push the narrative that a second term is not just expected but is a must. Some have even gone as far as to suggest that if votes are not enough, they will “steal” to secure his re-election. That rhetoric, openly hinting at electoral manipulation, should concern every citizen who believes in democratic principles.

Truth be told: President Ruto’s performance so far has been underwhelming. The 'bottom-up economic model' that galvanised his base remains more slogan than substance. The cost of living has skyrocketed, unemployment remains high, and punitive taxes, like those in the now-defunct Finance Act 2023, have only worsened the situation for ordinary Kenyans. While the President has made efforts to attract foreign investment, created temporary employment through housing project, and digitise government services, these incremental reforms have not translated into the transformative change he promised.

Corruption and mismanagement of public resources remain a thorny issue, even as public debt continues to spiral under his administration. All of these factors demand a sober evaluation of whether Ruto deserves a second term, not whether he is entitled to one actually.

However, perhaps the most glaring sign of discontent has come from the country’s youth. The Gen Z-led protests of June 2024, sparked by the punitive Finance Bill and deeper frustrations, presented a seismic political moment. These demonstrations were not orchestrated by opposition parties or traditional political actors, despite the government’s desperate attempts to scapegoat anyone and anything but itself. They were spontaneous, digital, leaderless, and brutally honest in their message about how Ruto’s government has failed them.

The State’s response has been both tragic and revealing. Peaceful protesters have been met with brute force, their cries for accountability drowned out by tear gas, batons, and bullets. Young Kenyans continue to be abducted in unmarked vehicles, held incommunicado, and in some horrifying cases, killed. During the July Saba Saba anniversary alone, over 50 youths were reportedly killed, while dozens more now face trumped-up terrorism charges, simply for daring to organise or participate in protests. This is not democracy. It is State-sanctioned repression. And with each violent crackdown, the rift between Ruto and the generation that once viewed him with cautious hope only grows wider, and more irreparable.

Rather than listen and respond, Ruto’s administration has chosen the path of intimidation. But silencing dissent does not erase it. It only deepens public anger and hardens resistance. The President must understand that no amount of blame games, backroom alliances, or choreographed photo opportunities with some religious outfits can mask the blood spilled on our streets or soothe the fear that now grips homes where loved ones never returned, killed simply for demanding a better future. This is not just a political crisis but is a moral collapse.

Now the most dangerous development, however, is not Ruto’s middling performance, but the rising hubris among his political surrogates. Some have declared publicly that even if Ruto’s popularity wanes, he will still win, implying election rigging as a political option. This is not just careless talk. It is the beginning of what could be an organised effort to delegitimise the 2027 elections before they even happen. It is this political arrogance that Kenyans must resist. We have paid dearly for it before, through violence, division, and contested outcomes. No leader, however charismatic, religious, or well spoken, should be allowed to weaponise the democratic process to remain in power by default.

Kenyans must remember that power resides not in State House but in the hands of the voter. President Ruto made promises. He asked to be judged on merit. The time is coming to evaluate whether he lived up to the expectations he set. If he has not, then he must be sent home regardless of historical patterns or tribal loyalty.

It is not an act of rebellion to deny a second term to an underperforming president. It is an act of patriotism. The sooner the political class accepts that the presidency is not a lifetime appointment, or a family inheritance, the better for Kenya’s democracy. Let President Ruto and his allies understand that a second term is not a constitutional right, nor a party benefit. It is a privilege that must be earned through results, not noise. And if they cannot handle that truth, then they do not deserve to lead.

Mr Wanjala is an independent investigative journalist