How Ruto’s political chess game has quelled Gen Z

President William Ruto’s recent political moves have largely enabled him to regain control after a wave of anti-government protests threatened his grip on power.

For the last three months, Ruto has gone flat out to assuage public anger by implementing radical decisions and policies, including forming a broad-based government.

The President has also launched an aggressive campaign to woo the country’s youthful population through town hall engagements, where he directly responds to concerns raised the public.

In what is seen as a deliberate strategy to appeal to Generation Z and millennials, Ruto has held talk show forums in Mombasa, Nairobi and Kisumu cities.

Many other public forums are lined up in various regions to coincide with his development tours to enhance visibility and project a solutions-based approach to issues raised. 

The Gen Zs and millennials took the lead in the June-July protests that saw youths storm Parliament, forcing Ruto to accede to some of their requests including rejecting the Finance Bill, 2024.

In recent days, the head of state has also slowed down on his international trips after clocking a record 62 trips across 38 countries by June this year as he concentrates on dealing with internal revolt.

After steadying the country, Ruto is expected to attend the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Beijing from September 4 to 6.

He could also participate in the Citizens Festival in Berlin as the first non-European international guest on September 14.

This year’s UN General Assembly is also scheduled for late September with the President expected to attend.

Political pundits argue that Ruto’s formation of a broad-based government has helped steady the country and defuse tensions that nearly pushed it to the brink.

The move has also given the President more political options to bolster his 2027 reelection plans after fears Mount Kenya region might bolt out.

Ruto has now heightened his charm offensive, touring the country with frenetic stops aimed at lobbying support for his unity government.

Former Cabinet Minister Franklin Bett termed Ruto’s broad-based government a masterstroke that vanquished his critics and automatically enhanced his fortunes.

“The broad-based government was a clever initiative that managed to steady the country and salvaged the government from potential collapse and annihilation," the former MP said.

“With Raila and his people on Ruto’s side, the government is solidly and firmly in charge."

Political analyst and university don Alexander Nyamboga said the President has signalled agility to "turn around bad situations into opportunities to steer the country forward."

Ruto has now embarked on regional trips, couched as development tours, to showcase his control. 

Following countrywide protests, the President dissolved his Cabinet and reconstituted a fresh one, bringing on board key opposition figures allied to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Ruto narrowly defeated Raila in the 2022 presidential contest but the two leaders are working together in what has evoked memories of the Pentagon camaraderie ahead of the 2027 polls.

Politicians from the opposition who have since joined the Cabinet include Raila’s two ODM party deputies Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives).

Others are former ODM national chairman John Mbadi (National Treasury), ex-Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi(Energy and Petroleum) and former party elections official Beatrice Askul (EAC and Regional Development).

Besides managing to bring on board Raila, Ruto has also defused tensions with his deputy Rigathi Gachagua.

Gachagua, who had previously accused the President's men of frustrating him and causing divisions in his Mt Kenya turf, has joined the President in all his recent regional tours.

Over the last month, Ruto has traversed 15 counties in Coast, Mount Kenya, Gusiiland, Western and Luo Nyanza to assert his influence and authority.

Analysts say the President’s trips are strategically aimed at lobbying support for the broad-based government while reassuring support bases that he is in control.

Immediately after he picked Joho as Mining and Blue Economy CS, President Ruto visited the coastal region for a three-day tour.

For the first time since his presidential victory in 2022, the President received a rapturous welcome in Mombasa, Kilfi, Kwale and Taita Taveta.

The President then moved to Mount Kenya for a four-day development tour in which Gachagua used the occasion to pledge his loyalty and reassure Ruto of the region’s support.

The tour comes at a time when his deputy had claimed that the Finance Bill, 2024 had been rejected by Kenyans because the President did not listen to the "ground".

Before Ruto withdrew the Finance Bill, Gachagua had traversed the region, denouncing MPs who voted for the Bill as enemies of the people.