It Is Unfair For Judiciary To Reduce The Salary Of Medical Interns By Over 100% Yet Ruto Is The Highest Paid Incompetent President In The World

At first glance, it may be astonishing to see William Ruto, President of Kenya, listed as the highest-paid president in the world when his salary is examined relative to his country’s GDP per capita. The data is unequivocal: President Ruto’s nominal annual salary is disproportionate to Kenya’s economic realities and the earnings of other professionals who hold the country’s essential services together. A staggering 1,993% of Kenya’s GDP per capita is what Ruto takes home annually, surpassing even the salary of Singapore’s Lawrence Wong, who earns $1,688,284 nominally yet oversees one of the world’s most efficient administrations.

The unjustified discrepancy between Ruto’s earnings and the salaries of public servants like doctors and teachers underscores deep-seated issues. Kenyan doctors, who are often at the forefront of life-saving operations and work tirelessly under dilapidated conditions, are paid an average starting salary of approximately $600 to $1,000 per month. This amount is a mere fraction of what Ruto pockets, translating to an annual income that barely scratches the surface of his take-home pay. This glaring disparity in pay becomes even more contemptible considering that doctors must invest years in their education and training, often working in overcrowded hospitals with minimal resources.

Teachers, the backbone of any society’s educational framework, fare no better. The average teacher’s salary in Kenya ranges from $300 to $800 per month, depending on experience and qualification. These figures highlight an alarming reality: the very people responsible for nurturing the future of Kenya earn salaries that are negligible compared to the astronomical compensation of the country’s leader. The contrast not only accentuates the wage inequality but raises urgent questions about national priorities and the allocation of public funds.

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While professionals are struggling to make ends meet, Kenya’s economic indicators show troubling signs. The country’s debt levels have ballooned, poverty rates are alarmingly high, and inflation continues to erode the purchasing power of the common Kenyan. Yet, amid this financial turmoil, President Ruto’s pay remains untouched, defying economic logic and moral standards. This level of remuneration for a president leading a country where the average citizen earns less than $2 per day is not just imprudent—it is morally indefensible.

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The decision to slash the pay of interns from KES 200,000 ($1,366) to KES 70,000 ($477) was justified by claims of budget constraints. If austerity measures can be imposed on the youth seeking practical experience to build their careers, why does the same logic not apply to the presidency? The optics of this are damning: a government that cannot afford to invest in the future workforce yet can sustain an exorbitant presidential salary that, by any reasonable standard, reeks of misplaced priorities.

Corruption has long plagued Kenya’s government, and Ruto’s administration has not proven to be an exception. Reports of misallocated funds, dubious tendering processes, and a disregard for transparent governance further amplify the resentment felt by citizens. High-profile cases involving the embezzlement of public funds erode trust, and when this is juxtaposed against a leader’s outsized earnings, it paints a stark picture of inequity and exploitation.

Unlike Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, whose high salary correlates with a government that is efficient, transparent, and innovative, Ruto’s regime has been marked by accusations of authoritarianism and the stifling of dissent. His administration’s handling of protests and the press has been met with criticism from both local and international watchdogs, cementing his reputation as a president who prioritizes personal gain over public good.

The economic strain under Ruto’s leadership is reflected in public services. Healthcare, for instance, has suffered severely due to underfunding. Many hospitals lack basic equipment, medication is often unavailable, and patients are sometimes forced to share beds. Yet, the man at the helm of this system earns enough in one month to build and equip an entire hospital wing. The absurdity of this reality cannot be overstated.

Education faces similar challenges. Overcrowded classrooms, insufficient learning materials, and underpaid teachers are the norm. While Ruto’s paycheck could fund the construction of new schools or the enhancement of teacher training programs, the benefits of such expenditures are overlooked in favor of personal enrichment. It is no wonder that Kenya’s academic performance lags behind that of its African peers.

The economic justification for reducing President Ruto’s salary is not difficult to establish. Kenya’s GDP growth has been modest at best, with the benefits failing to trickle down to the majority of its citizens. While some may argue that a leader’s salary should reflect the high responsibility and pressure of the office, this rationale collapses when the quality of leadership is subpar, and public trust is eroded by corruption and ineffectiveness.

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Kenya’s economy is not buoyed by the oil reserves or technological hubs that bolster other nations with highly paid leaders. The revenue that funds public spending is primarily drawn from taxes, which are shouldered by the middle and lower classes. This makes the extravagant salary of the president particularly reprehensible, as it represents a significant strain on a national budget that should prioritize social programs over luxurious lifestyles.

Calls to reduce Ruto’s salary echo beyond mere economic necessity; they embody a push for ethical governance. The recent pay cut to interns serves as an example of how government salaries can be recalibrated to better serve the public interest. Why should young, promising professionals bear the brunt of economic tightening while the president remains insulated from such measures? This double standard speaks volumes about the state of governance and the respect (or lack thereof) for equity.

There is a pressing need for comprehensive reform, one that aligns the salaries of leaders with the country’s economic health and the welfare of its citizens. Such reform would show that leadership is about service, not self-service. If Ruto’s administration truly prioritized the well-being of Kenyans, he would be the first to volunteer for a pay cut, demonstrating that his role is that of a public servant rather than a monarch presiding over a struggling populace.

Kenya cannot afford to normalize a system where the president’s earnings vastly outpace those of the most skilled and essential workers. In a nation where people die due to lack of basic healthcare and children go hungry because their parents’ salaries barely cover food and rent, paying a president an inflated salary is not just poor governance—it is an indictment of a failed system.

Reducing President Ruto’s salary could be a symbolic yet powerful step towards rebuilding public trust. It would show that Kenya’s leaders are willing to share in the sacrifices they demand of their citizens. Without such a gesture, the gap between the rulers and the ruled will only widen, perpetuating a cycle of resentment and disengagement.

The contrast is clear: as doctors fight to save lives and teachers struggle to educate the next generation, Ruto’s bloated pay stands as a monument to inequality. It is a stark reminder that while Kenyans sweat under the burden of survival, their president thrives in opulence. This is a legacy that needs urgent redress, for the sake of equity, justice, and the very soul of the nation.

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