Protesters in Kenya have been shouting a powerful message on the streets this week “Ruto wantam,” meaning Ruto one-term. This phrase is quickly becoming a threat to President William Ruto, who came into power nearly three years ago promising to support the poor and end police violence.
Today, those same streets are filled with angry citizens facing high living costs, government corruption, and violent crackdowns from police.
Many now believe that Ruto might not survive politically beyond 2027.Ruto’s presidency began with hope, but things have not improved for most Kenyans. Prices of basic goods have gone up sharply, and jobs are still scarce, especially for the youth.
A rights group funded by the government confirmed that 31 people were killed nationwide during recent protests that marked 35 years since Kenya’s pro-democracy struggle.
Police responded with bullets, tear gas, and water cannons, sparking even more anger. One protester, 22-year-old Festus Muiruri, said they were in the streets because they could not afford to feed their families.
They want the president to finally listen to their cries.Yet Ruto’s response has been slow and dismissive.
Last year, it took violent scenes of protesters invading parliament for him to drop unpopular tax proposals.
His current interior minister, Kipchumba Murkomen, has labeled protesters as criminals trying to overthrow the government. This dismissive tone has only fueled more unrest.
The protests are now being led by Gen Z, a younger, bolder generation. These young people, raised under free education and digital access, are smarter, more connected, and tired of false promises.
They are not guided by traditional political leaders but instead move through social media, calling each other to action. They don’t fear authority because they were born after the era of single-party rule, and they are not afraid to ask hard questions.
The situation became worse after blogger Albert Ojwang died in police custody, sparking massive protests where at least 19 people were killed in a single day. Investors have also grown worried.
According to Stanbic Bank, business expectations dropped to one of the lowest levels ever in May. Analysts warn that unless the government changes its approach, economic growth will suffer more.
Even with all this frustration, Ruto is safe for now due to his control of parliament and a weak opposition.
Last year, he managed to bring former Prime Minister Raila Odinga into government, reducing any serious political challenge. Still, experts say he has only two years to fix things.
Programmes aimed at youth employment and lower inflation might help, but many are not convinced.Political analyst Javas Bigambo warned that the youth see the government as blind, deaf, and dumb.
Unless Ruto changes how he deals with them, his dream of a second term may slip away.
The people want respect, solutions, and action not tear gas and empty words.
