Ruto’s ambitious plan to edge out old guards
Ruto's ambitious plan to edge out old guards in politics and replacing them with youthful politicians
Ruto’s ambitious plan to edge out old guards in politics and replacing them with youthful politicians.
President William Ruto is on a mission to prop up a new crop of leaders for both succession and success of his administration according to political analysts.
Since he ascended to power, Ruto has appointed many new faces to his inner circle in what is shaping up as a grand scheme to edge out veteran politicians ahead of his 2027 re-run.
In order to strengthen his power circle and make political breakthroughs, Ruto has elevated a number of young MPs from various parts of the nation.
As part of the Kenya Kwanza administration’s legislative program, the President has also given youthful lawmakers important leadership posts in the National Assembly and the Senate, positioning them at the center of their re-election campaigns.
In the Senate, 36-year-old Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) is the Majority Leader, with 45-year-old Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu) as his National Assembly counterpart.
Similarly, South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro, 34, is holding the plum Majority Whip in the National Assembly.
Some of the youthful politicians holding key positions in Parliament include Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro (chair, Budget and Appropriation Committee, 37), Molo MP Kimani Kuria (chair, Finance and National Planning Committee, 31), Nyali MP Mohammed Ali (Parliamentary Service Commission, 43), Kilifi South MP Owen Baya (National Assembly Deputy Majority Leader) and Belgut MP Nelson Koech (chair, Defence Committee).
According to analysts, this is done in an effort to undercut established leaders while supporting new ones.
A new generation of leaders needs to be supported, according to the President’s allies, for both succession and the success of his administration.
“The President absolutely believes in the leadership of young politicians and that is why he has given the young Turks key positions in his administration, including the leadership of both Houses,” says Mr. Baya.
However, some of Dr. Ruto’s critics claim that he prefers to deal with youthful politicians who can’t challenge his authority.
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“Most seasoned politicians have been around for a while and understand who Ruto is and can rarely work with him. The young politicians are easily lured and swayed,” says nominated MP and ODM chairman John Mbadi. “His mindset is in the people he can manipulate and control. Even the people he has picked to be in his Cabinet cannot question him. He will basically be calling the shots in everything. You can see he has so many advisors on nearly everything.”
Javas Bigambo, a governance expert and political observer, claims that Dr. Ruto’s rise to power was significantly aided by young politicians, which explains his propensity to nominate them for high office.
According to Mr. Bigambo, Dr. Ruto is teaching the young people that political allegiance is always rewarded by promoting them.
“He is also telling the older generation that their time is up. He is trying to send a message that the leadership baton has been sent to the younger generation. Those young politicians who supported him were also fighting for their survival and needed to be rewarded.
“The older people were against his candidature, but the younger politicians unapologetically defied the system and went out to support him,” says Mr. Bigambo.
Political analyst and lawyer Dunstan Omari says that trusting youthful politicians with key positions may, however, end up backfiring.
“His Cabinet is a mixture of the old and those in their middle age, but in Parliament, he has gone for young politicians. He is basically looking beyond 2022, as voters are mostly youths,” says Mr. Omari.
“But someone would ask if the president is scared of well-established people. The answer for me is yes. He wants people who take instructions from him and people who want handouts for survival; basically errand boys and girls.”
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