President Ruto explains drop in his popularity since taking office
President William Ruto has acknowledged the decline in his popularity ratings since assuming office
President William Ruto has acknowledged the decline in his popularity ratings since assuming office.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, he attributed the drop to the demanding nature of leadership and the high expectations Kenyans have of his administration.
Ruto explained that political leadership often comes with shifts in public perception, particularly when citizens expect rapid change.
“It’s the nature of politics. When you get into office, there is stuff to be done. People’s expectations are high. Many people expect things to happen immediately, but it takes time to fix up stuff,” he said.
Ruto noted that the government has undertaken major reforms and initiatives aimed at stabilizing the economy and addressing key national challenges.
He maintained that despite the challenges, his administration has made significant progress in fulfilling campaign promises.
“If you look at the three years I have been in office, I made huge commitments to Kenyans, and it’s the basis upon which the expectations of Kenyans have been very high. Have I met those expectations? I can confidently tell you that, on a scale of 1-10, I have done 8,” he added.
Speaking during the same interview, Ruto stood firm on his past remarks directing police to shoot violent protesters in the leg.
In an interview with Al Jazeera on Sunday, November 9, he dismissed claims that his comments were excessive, maintaining that law enforcement officers have the legal authority to use force when necessary.
The Head of State noted that he had no regrets about making the controversial statement and defended the police’s actions as both lawful and independent.
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“I don’t regret those comments at all, because the law allows the police to use force when other people’s lives are in danger. I think the police know what they need to do. And the police, by the way, understand that it is within their purview.
“That is why when I came into office, I ensured that the police was independent. The police carried out their responsibilities independently,” he said.
Ruto went on to explain that while he respects the right to peaceful protest, recent demonstrations had often been infiltrated by criminals who used them as cover to engage in looting and destruction of property.
He said the police were forced to strike a balance between managing legitimate protesters and confronting those committing crimes.
“There are many aspects of that protest. There are people who genuinely are there to express their opinions, you know, different opinions, but there are also criminal elements. People who come to burn down buildings, destroy properties, steal from all manner of places, supermarkets, and many of those.
“And the public itself went up in arms because they said, ‘these are not protests, this is looting, this is criminality.’ The police have had to balance between dealing with violent criminals on one end and also managing protests,” he added.
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