Ruto’s Litany of Failures: Why Kenya Must Invoke Article 1 For His Resignation

In less than two years, President William Ruto’s administration has faced significant challenges, with many key policies being declared unconstitutional or failing to deliver on their promises. These failures highlight administrative incompetence and severely undermine the legitimacy of his government. Here’s my analysis based on verified facts:

Hustler Fund

The Hustler Fund, launched to provide financial support to small businesses, has faced operational issues rather than being declared unconstitutional. It has disbursed over Ksh 30 billion, but the repayment rate has been problematic, with nearly Ksh 10 billion in defaults within the first year.

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Maisha Card 

The Maisha Card aimed to provide universal health coverage but faced substantial implementation challenges and has not been successfully rolled out. This initiative’s failure to take off reflects poorly on Ruto’s ability to implement critical health policies effectively.

Finance Act 2023 

The Finance Act 2023 faced legal challenges and significant public outcry due to its controversial provisions, including increased taxes. While it aimed to streamline economic management, it faced pushback and was eventually challenged in court, illustrating the administration’s struggle to pass robust, legally sound financial policies.

Finance Bill 2024 

Similar to the Finance Act 2023, the Finance Bill 2024 has faced significant scrutiny and legal challenges. The administration’s repeated inability to draft constitutionally sound financial legislation points to systemic issues within Ruto’s government.

SHIF (Social Health Insurance Fund)

The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) faced legal hurdles, being declared unconstitutional due to its framework. Health insurance reforms are crucial for social welfare, and this failure reveals significant mismanagement in handling health policies, undermining public confidence in the administration.

Housing Levy 

The proposed Housing Levy aimed at funding affordable housing faced legal challenges and public opposition, reflecting poor policy formulation. The failure to implement this policy legally and effectively signifies a critical oversight in addressing housing needs.

KRA Field Officers 

The deployment of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) field officers was declared unconstitutional due to issues of overreach and improper authorization, highlighting the administration’s disregard for constitutional boundaries in enforcement strategies.

VAT on Fuel 

The imposition of VAT on fuel was ruled unconstitutional, exacerbating the economic burden on ordinary Kenyans. This policy’s failure to pass legal scrutiny indicates a significant flaw in the administration’s approach to taxation and economic management.

Fake Fertilizers 

The scandal involving fake fertilizers, which posed a risk to food security, demonstrated the administration’s failure to regulate critical agricultural inputs. Such negligence not only threatens livelihoods but also violates the constitutional right to safety and health.

JKIA Saga 

The mismanagement of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) highlighted severe governance failures, including unconstitutional decision-making processes within such a critical infrastructure hub.

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Poisonous Sugar 

The distribution of poisonous sugar is a stark reminder of the administration’s inability to safeguard public health. This scandal, coupled with the lack of accountability, showcases a disregard for constitutional protections on public safety.

Fake Cooking Oil 

Similar to the sugar scandal, the circulation of fake cooking oil represents a serious public health threat and a failure in regulatory oversight. These repeated failures in ensuring safe consumer products point to systemic issues within Ruto’s administration.

G2G Oil Deal 

The government-to-government oil deal, marked by its lack of transparency and unconstitutional provisions, underscores the administration’s tendency to bypass legal norms. Such deals not only erode public trust but also highlight the administration’s failure to operate within the bounds of constitutional law.

The Kenyan Constitution, through Article 1, empowers the people to exercise their sovereignty directly. Each policy declared unconstitutional or failed highlights the erosion of public trust and governance issues in Ruto’s administration. For the sake of Kenya’s democracy, stability, and future, it is imperative that President Ruto resigns or that a vote of no confidence is passed. The Kenyan people deserve leadership that respects the Constitution and can deliver on its promises within the legal framework.

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