President William Ruto on Friday came to face-to-face with the anger and rage of Kenyans during his social media interactions on X space as Kenyans swamped him with uncomfortable questions.
In an unprecedented first, the head of state hosted Kenyans especially young people, on the digital space, a move viewed as a way to quell the growing public dissatisfaction with his administration.
The engagement comes on week three of public protests that culminated into a first storming of Parliament by aggrieved Kenyans protesting the passage of punitive tax law.
During the engagement that lasted over three hours, the participants mainly techno-savvy young Kenyans, confronted the President with uncomfortable questions including his economy with the truth.
An average 160,000 participants joined the engagement.
The straight shooting youths put the President to task over alleged lying habit, arrogance of his Kenya Kwanza team, abetting corruption, unleashing lethal force on unarmed peaceful protesters as well as unfulfilled promises.
The President was also under fire over extrajudicial and the recent case of police abductions that dotted the three weeks of public rage.
An X user who only introduced himself as Miller, almost told the President that he had blood in his hands accusing him of failing to express remorse on the fateful day when he addressed the nation.
“I am a photographer and the boy shot in Parliament was shot in front me, that thing has been affecting me, that day you addressed the nation there was no remorse,” the user said.
“It is like life doesn’t mean anything to you. Just go back and reflect, you are a father and a mother."
In his response the President while sympathising with the situation, explained that a criminal who snatched a gun from police officer shoot at the demonstrator and not the police.
The police, he noted, killed the criminal in retaliation.
Building on that, another user put the President to task for inaction of his administration in dealing with rogue police officers who were filmed shooting at unarmed protesters.
“There is a police officer captured killing a protester and he is still roaming the streets, when are you going to arrest him. We even have the videos and pictures?” he asked.
Another user told the President that his administration was behind the criminals that infiltrated the peaceful protests raining havoc on Kenyans and businesses.
“It is clear that police was watching as the criminals broke into shops but if protesters armed with phones and water were seen on the streets they were shot at and even killed, it is obvious someone was behind the criminals,” the X user said.
The President was also forced to apologise on behalf of his Kenya Kwanza team who were roundly condemned for insensitive display of opulence as well as expression of arrogance to Kenyans.
Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen, National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Molo MP Kimani Kuria who also chairs Finance Committee, were cited for their condescending attitude.
Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu’s name also featured in the list of arrogant state officers.
“I agree with you, not everybody understands communication. The Molo MP is a young man I am mentoring, sometimes you say things and you don’t mean how it comes out there. I apologise,” he said.
On corrupt members of his Cabinet, the brutal youths demanded that he drops CSs especially Mithika Linturi (Agriculture) who had been linked to fake fertiliser scandal.
Linturi was however cleared by Parliament of any wrongdoing following impeachment motion filed by Bumula MP Wanami Wamboka.
“Please get new faces, don’t recycle. You have people who the best they can deliver is abuses,” a female participant told the President.
Mabonga from Kimilili in Bungoma county claimed the President is surrounded by incompetent people in his Cabinet.
The President responses did not however move the participants who accused him of being evasive and taking them in circles.
“I don’t have any question because I feel that the people who have asked questions you have taken them round and round,” another participant shot at the President.
Earlier, the President announced nine major radical steps his administration will be undertaking to adjust to the new budget realities.
On top of the painful sacrifices the President made, is the removal of the offices of the First Lady, spouses of the deputy President, Prime Cabinet Secretary as well as letting go half of advisers in government.
The government will also be dissolving 47 state agencies with overlapping and duplicating mandates.
The National Treasury had established a High-Level Fiscal Risk Committee tasked with evaluating and reporting on fiscal risks originating from state corporations, agencies and government authorities.
The committee recommended that some state corporations be merged while others should be scrapped.
In a televised address to the nation, Ruto said unprecedented move is in keeping with budgetary implications of the withdrawal of Finance Bill 2024.
Ruto also suspended non-essential travel for government workers, buying new cars.
He also dropped the appointment of Chief Administrative Secretaries that Salaries and Remuneration Commission estimated was to gobble at least Sh9.4 million to keep one CAS in office.
“I make this statement to highlight the actions taken in response to overwhelming public feedback in recent days, to fulfil my commitment to continuously and effectively listen to the people of Kenya, and to underscore my intention to always take public contributions in good faith, applying them to enrich policymaking and governance,” the President said.
In a mop up of all resources to close on the budget deficit, Ruto further announced confidential budgets including the presidential office will be reduced by 50 per cent.
"Similarly, the budgetary provisions for confidential budgets in various Executive offices, including my office, shall be removed, and the budget for renovations across the government reduced by 50 per cent," he said.
The President also gazetted an independent Presidential Taskforce on Forensic Audit of Public Debt.
Nancy Onyango was appointed chairperson of the task force and Luis Franceschi as the vice chairperson.
“This audit will provide the people of Kenya with clarity on the extent and nature of the debt, how public resources were expended, and will recommend proposals for managing our public debt in a manner that is sustainable and with intergenerational equity,” the President noted.
In another major administration shift, the President directed public servants who have attained the retirement age of 60 to proceed to retirement.
According to the head of state, there will be no extension of tenures of public servants who are 60 and above.
The move is meant to cut costs.