Acknowledging mistakes might help Ruto government regain public trust

For more than one week, blogger Ndiang'ui Kinyagia made Kenyans incessantly bark up the wrong tree. And even when the Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin said he did not know the whereabouts of Mr Ndiang'ui, nobody believed him. 

This offers a lesson on the ramifications of perception; that once embedded, it is difficult to turn it around. Amid executive nonchalance and silence when things started going south, Kenya Kwanza acquired the reputation of an ogre, a blood sucking leech. So, when anyone shouts ‘thief!’, the image the minds of Kenyans conjure up is that of Kenya Kwanza.

The Ndiang'ui misadventure, however, compels us to pause and reflect. While not sanitising the government, it allows us to ask: Is the government guilty of all the charges against it really?

With proper communication and political goodwill, the stain on Kenya Kwanza’s fabric can be removed. The perception of betrayal arising from the government’s failure to honour campaign promises, and the arrogance displayed by some of the government functionaries are the major causes of the friction between Gen Z and the government. 

President William Ruto should start by putting a muzzle on the masters of incendiary rhetoric like Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wah and Interior Kipchumba Murkomen and, for once, let the Office of Government Spokesman earn its keep. In the scheme of things today, this office exists as a decoration, hence the confusion in messaging from the government and its institutions. An organised, centralised communication unit will help the Kenya Kwanza government reclaim some of its lost shine through purposeful, coherent communication. 

The hustler-versus-dynasty narrative during the 2022 election campaigns was a clever spin that exploited unremarked realities of the time. It gave hope and promised a lot. More importantly, it promised youth jobs and, at the very least,  economic empowerment. 

We have seen empowerment initiatives spearheaded by, among others, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Farouk Kibet, Dr Ruto's PA. While Prof Kindiki's efforts run into headwinds, those of Mr Kibet have increased in scope, and the list of beneficiaries includes churches, people living with disabilities, boda boda riders, youth and women groups. 

From the outset, promises made by Kenya Kwanza might have been well intended, but they failed to consider the economic realities. Campaign promises failed to align with the health status of the National Treasury, the very core of governance. 

After the great biblical flood, Noah sent a dove and raven to assess the situation. The dove returned, but the raven did not. The possible explanation is that the raven found enough carrion to feed on, it forgot its mission. That is the predicament Kenya Kwanza finds itself in. Some of the President's lieutenants have forgotten their mission.

Designer bespoke suits, expensive watches belts and shoes which, only a few months before were a luxury, took their fancy. This happened at a time when the government’s withdrawal of subsidies on fuel, electricity and flour, and the introduction of more taxes triggered a high cost of living. With each passing day, the promise of Nirvana receded and with it, came resentment. 

That is what Gen Z are expressing. It doesn't help matters that the things Kenyans had gotten used to; bursaries, a functional, cost-sharing health system, capitation, free education and higher education loans, are being taken away from them even as taxation increases. Meanwhile, the business environment forces companies to retrench, close or slash salaries.

The result is a growing chasm between the few rich and poor majority. The latter have been through a lot, have lost a lot and believe they have nothing more to lose except their fear. Their anger has reached a boiling point and is seeking an outlet. Those who happen to be in government, unfortunately, offer an easy target. 

The most honourable thing for Kenya Kwanza to do is acknowledge where it fell short and stop its apologists from apportioning blame and trying to divert attention. The government has inadvertently been building the profiles of some of the Opposition leaders by blaming them for actionable misdeeds, yet acting as if it is helpless to take decisive action.