We find ourselves, as many Kenyans have observed, in a dismal governance era. A case in point is the chaotic rollout of the new university funding model. On any given day this week, our newscast and newspapers have been awash with stories of bright young minds from across the country filled with dreams who now face an uncertain future.
The new funding model was meant to be a progressive shift in the education sector but has instead become a potent symbol of President William Ruto’s government’s consistent lack of preparedness and attention to detail. The debacle not only underscores a clear policy failure but also lends credence to a troubling trend in Ruto’s presidency; a pattern of distraction and an apparent disregard for the pressing issues facing ordinary Kenyans.
Ruto's 2022 campaign was a masterclass in messaging. Despite serving as Deputy President for 10 years, Ruto skilfully branded himself as the outsider and the antithesis to the entrenched political dynasties. He cleverly positioned himself as a man of the people, someone who understood the struggles of "mama mboga" and "mtu wa boda boda”.
However, two years into his presidency, these same families are struggling to afford university education for their bright sons and daughters. It's therefore hard to avoid the conclusion that Ruto's commitment to the “hustler nation” was little more than a campaign slogan. Instead of comprehensively addressing the university funding issue, Ruto has instead embarked on a nationwide charm offensive, cutting ribbons and launching projects that have been operational for years.
Ruto, unfortunately, now cuts the image of a work-shy leader more concerned with self-soothing optics than policy outcomes, with appearances rather than substance and with speeches rather than performance. This hasn't escaped the attention of Kenyans.
Ever the barometer of public sentiment, social platforms like Twitter (formerly X), TikTok and Facebook are flooded with Kenyans calling out Ruto's many policy flip-flops and contradictions. They point to his repeated promises and subsequent failures to deliver as evidence of a leader, who is either out of touch or simply disingenuous. While the memes and hashtags being deployed online may provide momentary entertainment, the underlying issue is no laughing matter. It calls attention to a sobering fact; a leader who has failed to deliver on his campaign promises is either unfit for the job or has succeeded at something far darker.
Ruto’s malleability and seeming insincerity have been a preoccupation of the local and international press for a long time. Almost a year ago, The Economist published a country update on Kenya, which observed that Ruto "is a master of inscrutability. While his face often wears a smile, a glance at William Ruto's eyes suggests it is rarely a warm one." This was not just a throwaway line. It was a keen observation of a leader who has consistently been difficult to pin down.
This inscrutability has now become a liability for Ruto. Kenyans are left wondering which version of their President is leading their country; the populist champion or the detached bureaucrat?
Ruto, unfortunately, hasn't also done himself any favours with the individuals he's chosen to staff his administration. As I have noted in previous columns, personnel is policy. The German sociologist Max Weber once described "charismatic authority" as a type of leadership where a leader's courtiers are "forever attempting to win favour by guessing what the boss wanted or might applaud but might well not have asked for."
This aptly describes the current state of Ruto's administration, where the focus seems to be on pleasing the President rather than on effective governance. This approach is not only unsustainable but also dangerous for a country that needs decisive leadership.
Kenyans deserve a President who is fully engaged, committed and focused on delivering on his campaign pledges, one who is not just a master of optics but a master of outcomes. There is a version of William Ruto that is capable of this. When is he showing up?