BONIFACE MWANGI: One Year Later, Why Ruto Must Go

By Boniface Mwangi

When General Ogolla was killed a year ago, Ruto faced the country and promised open and transparent investigations. A year later, nothing has happened. We’re approaching a year since the Ruto-led government killer squad murdered innocent people during the June 25th anti-finance bill protest. In a despicable attempt to justify the killings, Ruto called those who took to the streets “treasonous” before a public outcry later forced him to swallow his words, withdraw the rejected finance bill, and fire his cabinet and Inspector General of Police. Almost one year later, there’s been no justice for our murdered comrades, his arrogance is back, and the looting and oppression by his failed government continues unabated.

Corruption, petty crime, terrorism, police brutality, and brazen land grabbing are now commonplace. Kenya is a criminal’s paradise. No wonder the police cannot release current crime statistics. Things are bad, and the police don’t even have patrol vehicles, or the few available ones have no fuel to respond to crimes.

After the June 25, 2024 protest, a spate of abductions followed. Those abductions were coordinated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the National Security Intelligence Service, and the Directorate of Military Intelligence. In a recent televised interview, Ruto admitted as much when he stated that his government had disbanded the squad inside the police force that had been abducting Kenyans. That he said this, in spite of previous denials that he had any knowledge of who was doing the abductions, speaks volumes about the duplicity of the man entrusted with protecting the lives of Kenyan citizens.

DCI, currently headed by Mohamed Ibrahim Amin, is an organ of the National Police Service and reports to the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, who was present at the presidential rallies in Kiambu County this past week, and appeared to be engaging in politics as he addressed the crowds in his mother tongue, momentarily forgetting that his office is supposed to be independent and non-partisan. NSIS on its part is headed by former Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji, while the Military Intelligence is under Chief of Defence Forces, General Charles Kahariri.

Now, these three men – Kanja, Noordin, and Kahariri – betrayed their constitutional mandate when they helped Ruto track, abduct, and disappear his critics following the youth-led anti-finance bill protests. It is evident that the protests severely rocked Ruto and his government, who were only voted into power with a small margin, in an election that was hugely significant because of the large number of young people who declined to vote. Ruto sees this youth bloc as an existential threat to his government because they did not give him a mandate to rule. As an educated and largely disenfranchised lot, they are also not easily controlled despite Ruto unleashing his campaign of fear and intimidation against them.

As people who receive daily intelligence reports, the top security bosses know that no miracle can secure a second term for the man behind the killing of peaceful protesters. The “Ruto Must Go” anthem cannot be tamed or silenced. They also understand that unlike our parents who failed to pressure Kibaki to prosecute Moi and his thugs, the Gen Zs will demand justice for all the crimes committed by this regime, and those who played a role in the abductions and killings will be prosecuted.

In light of this, Kanja, Noordin, and Kahariri are preparing the ground to help Ruto bribe, intimidate, steal, and even kill to secure a second term. The call for patriotism that they’re currently propagating is bullshit. We love our country, but we have no obligation to love our president. That’s his wife’s and children’s responsibility, even if they don’t like what they do. Ruto is desperate for validation that he’s a popularly elected president. That’s why he’s always on top of his vehicle speaking to paid crowds and looking for love and affirmation that his family and friends don’t give him. Parents should love their children enough so that they don’t spend the rest of their lives looking for love and affirmation from strangers.

The movement is strong. However, I want to sound an alarm bell that it has been infiltrated by the State in a deliberate attempt to divide people and stir up unnecessary hate. The strategy is to deploy compromised individuals who are active on social media to try and discredit some members of the movement by claiming they were paid or are agents of the State. This tactic is not new. It’s what the UhuRuto government used against me and other activists during their 10 years of misrule. They attack the messenger so that you stop listening to the message. They try to discredit everyone the regime considers to be a threat so that Ruto can demobilize any future plans to oppose him. They are planting seeds of hate and division through spreading lies and propaganda, and the beneficiary is Ruto. Don’t fall prey to their cheap antics or engage with them. People have been thrown in jail or even murdered for saying some of the things these people are asking Kenyans to do, but they will not be touched because they are agents of the State.

Be vigilant. Stay focused. Know your why. Educate yourself. Be very clear about what you’re fighting for. Study and understand the enemy… he is doing the same thing and has vast resources at his disposal. But do not be intimidated, and remember that we possess the real power which is protected by the supreme law of the land, our Constitution, which even Ruto must abide by. We are the ones standing on the right side of history. Stay united. Protect and support one another, especially those on the frontline of organizing and mobilizing to liberate us from the looters and oppressors. Remember they’re doing this for free. No one is paying them, and unlike the few sellouts we know, they’re still on the side of the people. Finally, l can’t fail to mention and celebrate the women in the movement. Not a single one of them has betrayed the cause. Ignore the misinformation, disinformation, and mad rants of the government moles.

The spirit of the peaceful revolution is still very strong. Let us remember June 25th and join hands to celebrate the sacrifice of our heroes. It’s a holiday for revolutionaries.

The writer is a Kenyan human rights activist.

Disclaimer: The opinion expressed is solely that of the writer and does not reflect the views of Kenya Insights.