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Government and Policy

The Benevolent Tyrant: How Ruto Is Graciously Saving Kenya From The Perils Of Freedom

BY Steve Biko Wafula · October 4, 2024 10:10 am

KEY POINTS

But who are we to complain? Surely, it's better to be governed by a visionary who knows what's best for us. We may not understand the intricacies of finance, healthcare, transport, housing, or climate policy, but Ruto does.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

In the end, the danger is clear. The country is slipping into a toxic environment where one man’s interests supersede those of 50 million Kenyans. And as Ruto tightens his grip on every industry, sector, and institution, the nation risks becoming little more than a personal fiefdom, where dissent is silenced, laws are ignored, and democracy is but a memory.

Ah, William Ruto, Kenya’s savior. With the zeal of a saint, he has taken it upon himself to rescue the nation from the destructive claws of autonomy, decentralization, and—God forbid—economic independence. In an act of unprecedented generosity, he has decided that Kenyans don’t really need control over their own food, transport, or healthcare. No, it’s far better if the benevolent presidency handles these trivial matters, saving the nation from the exhausting responsibility of self-governance. Why grow your own food when the state can graciously decide who gets to eat and at what price?

It would be utterly naïve to think that the Constitution of Kenya—yes, that dusty old document—guarantees freedom from exploitation. How dare anyone accuse Ruto of breaking laws when he is clearly just bending them to fit his noble agenda? The Public Officer Ethics Act, which so rudely forbids state officials from engaging in businesses that create conflicts of interest, was obviously written by people who didn’t have Ruto’s divine foresight. After all, can you really expect a leader to elevate the country without owning a slice of every pie? Transport? Let him dabble. Healthcare? Let him dictate. Housing? Well, who else should decide where you live but the man at the top?

Read Also: Ruto’s Greed-Fueled Agenda: How Kenya’s Critical Public Firms Are Falling Prey to a Ruthless Privatization Plot Endangering National Security

It’s almost laughable how critics accuse him of violating Chapter Six of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity. Don’t they know that integrity is a fluid concept? One day it’s about transparency, and the next, it’s about consolidating power in the name of efficiency. Who could blame him for wanting a hand in every industry? It’s much easier to control an entire nation’s economy if you control the food they eat, the roads they drive on, the hospitals they go to, and the houses they live in. This, dear Kenyans, is called streamlining governance.

Then there’s the little matter of state capture. You see, Ruto has quite magnanimously taken it upon himself to show Kenyans what state capture really looks like. It’s an educational experience, really. The Horticultural Crop Authority Bill 2024? Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s about exploiting smallholder farmers; it’s about guiding them into the warm embrace of centralized control. Why let over 3 million farmers determine their own fates when they can be micro-managed by the state for the greater good?

Read Also: When Demons Dance: A Sad Tale of Ruto, Gachagua, And The Sinking Kenyan Economy

The danger, of course, lies in the potential to create a system where the president’s interests directly conflict with those of the public. But come on, conflict of interest is such an outdated term, isn’t it? When the president profits from both public policy and private ventures, it’s not a conflict—it’s synergy. Like a well-oiled machine, Ruto’s administration ensures that his personal businesses benefit from laws designed to assist the public. How else would you describe the transfer of public assets into private hands, if not as a brilliant exercise in efficiency?

Take the ongoing overhaul of the healthcare system, for instance. The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) is, without a doubt, a stroke of genius. By forcing every Kenyan to contribute to a system they barely understand, Ruto is ensuring that health is no longer a human right but a privilege to be sold back to them at a premium. The fact that he stands to benefit from this isn’t corruption; it’s just good business. After all, shouldn’t a president know what’s best for the people by personally investing in every sector?

It’s truly a pity that the judiciary doesn’t fully appreciate his visionary approach. That pesky thing called the rule of law keeps getting in the way of his grand plans. Laws like the Competition Act, which aims to prevent the creation of monopolies and cartels, are clearly just minor roadblocks for a leader of his caliber. How else can Kenya achieve progress if not through monopolizing food, transport, healthcare, and housing? After all, competition is overrated.

Now, some may argue that controlling everything from insurance to banking is a bit too much. But what do they know? These alarmists fail to see the bigger picture. The Kenyan people need a president who can steer the economy by the reins, without interference from democratic institutions like Parliament or the judiciary. In fact, it’s rather inconvenient that these bodies still exist at all. The sooner they’re dissolved or made irrelevant, the better.

Let’s not forget the sheer brilliance of Ruto’s housing agenda. Critics will say it’s a poorly disguised land grab, but who are we to question his grand vision? Affordable housing, they call it, but in reality, it’s a masterclass in the redistribution of wealth—from the poor to the connected elites, of course. What’s a few hectares of prime land here or there, slipping into the hands of well-placed individuals who just happen to be close to the presidency? If anything, it’s Ruto’s way of teaching us that real estate is the only real power, and who better to hold it than those already in power?

And let’s applaud the subtle genius of his environmental policies. Yes, yes, the climate crisis is real, but Ruto’s approach to climate is nothing short of revolutionary. Instead of focusing on reducing emissions or preserving natural resources, he’s focusing on how to control the narrative around climate. After all, why address the root causes when you can market your own eco-friendly initiatives while handing out lucrative contracts to friendly corporations? If climate change is going to wreak havoc, why shouldn’t the president profit from it?

In this new age of enlightened despotism, it’s only fitting that Ruto has his fingers in the insurance sector too. Who better to safeguard the assets of Kenyans than the man who is single-handedly dismantling their public healthcare system? The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) is only the beginning. Soon, Kenyans will realize that the only way to truly be safe is to buy insurance policies directly from companies connected to—well, you know who.

And the financial sector? Oh, Ruto’s intervention here is simply poetic. Banks once prided themselves on competition and innovation. But with the president’s thoughtful guidance, they are learning that real success lies in following his lead. Why let Kenyans borrow from independent financial institutions when you can tie their fortunes directly to state-controlled mechanisms? After all, when you control the banks, you control the economy. And when you control the economy, you control the people. It’s a tried and true formula for success—at least for those at the top.

Of course, it would be remiss not to mention Ruto’s ventures into the hospitality and tourism industries. Some call it unethical for a sitting president to have business interests in sectors heavily influenced by government policy. But in Ruto’s world, it’s merely good governance. By taking a direct interest in hospitality, he’s just ensuring that Kenya is presented in the best possible light to foreign investors and tourists. After all, wouldn’t it be irresponsible for the government to allow any old hotel or resort to represent the nation? Far better to leave such matters in the capable hands of those already well-versed in presidential discretion.

Read Also: Dealer Ruto, No One Invited You: Kenyans Send Their Middle Finger to the UNGA79

And what of the minerals sector? Kenya is sitting on vast natural resources, and Ruto, in his infinite wisdom, has decided that it’s not enough for the country to benefit from them collectively. No, these resources must be carefully allocated to the right people—the ones who understand how to maximize their value. And if those people just so happen to have close ties to the state, well, that’s just a coincidence, right? Mineral wealth shouldn’t be wasted on the masses. It should be harnessed by those who understand how to wield power. After all, what’s the point of national resources if they can’t enrich the nation’s most important citizens?

Let’s also take a moment to appreciate the security apparatus that has been so thoughtfully designed under Ruto’s reign. Who would’ve thought that turning state security forces into tools of personal protection could be done so smoothly? Kenya’s police and military, once tasked with serving and protecting the public, have now been repurposed to protect the interests of those in power. It’s a remarkable transformation. By ensuring that state security is used to protect the elite, rather than the people, Ruto is demonstrating his commitment to safety—if not for the country, then certainly for himself.

And as we wade deeper into this brilliant quagmire of state capture, it’s clear that Ruto’s vision for Kenya is one where all roads lead to him. Literally. The transport sector, once a chaotic but competitive space, is now being funneled into the hands of those who know how to *align* their interests with the presidency. How convenient it is that major infrastructure projects and lucrative contracts just so happen to benefit companies linked to the man himself. It’s a neat trick, really: build roads and railways, control who uses them, and ensure that those who profit are the ones most loyal to the cause.

Read Also: Ruto’s Wicked Harvest: How The Horticultural Bill Will Starve 3 Million Farmers And Feed His Foreign Masters

But who are we to complain? Surely, it’s better to be governed by a visionary who knows what’s best for us. We may not understand the intricacies of finance, healthcare, transport, housing, or climate policy, but Ruto does. His involvement in every facet of Kenyan life is a testament to his dedication—or perhaps, to his obsession with control.

As the Constitution bends and twists under the weight of his ambitions, one can’t help but wonder: when will it snap? Chapter Six, the Ethics Act, the Competition Act—all these laws were designed to prevent the very kind of overreach we are witnessing, but they seem to be mere inconveniences in Ruto’s grand plan. His disregard for conflict of interest is not just a breach of the law; it’s a breach of trust.

In the end, the danger is clear. The country is slipping into a toxic environment where one man’s interests supersede those of 50 million Kenyans. And as Ruto tightens his grip on every industry, sector, and institution, the nation risks becoming little more than a personal fiefdom, where dissent is silenced, laws are ignored, and democracy is but a memory.

So, dear Kenyans, the snake may not have bitten yet, but its coils are tightening. And unless we cut off its head, the bite will be fatal.

Read Also: Ruto’s Theater of Corruption: Preaching Water While Guzzling Wine

Steve Biko is the CEO OF Soko Directory and the founder of Hidalgo Group of Companies. Steve is currently developing his career in law, finance, entrepreneurship and digital consultancy; and has been implementing consultancy assignments for client organizations comprising of trainings besides capacity building in entrepreneurial matters. He can be reached on: +254 20 510 1124 or Email: info@sokodirectory.com

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