Did We Overate William Ruto?

As President Ruto and his Deputy  Rigathi Gachagua took oath of office Kenyans had high expectations owing to the numerous  promises they had given during campaigns. The duo had promised to take critical measures to revive the sinking Kenyan economy, create more employment opportunities for the youth, broaden and revive industrialization, subsidize farm inputs and increase productivity in all sectors.

During campaigns, Ruto promised to resize the executive and its budget with an aim of reducing expenditure. Infact, Ruto campaigned vehemently against President Uhuru whom he accused of creating positions for his friends. Unfortunately the once vocal man has  heavily failed Kenyans he vehemently promised . Ruto has completely done the opposite of what he said by rewarding his friends and creating 50 CAS positions for his loyalists. Ruto has increased the executive budget by a great percentage and allowed his friend Musalia Mudavadi, prime cabinet secretary to create an office for his spouse with a budget allocation.

The most hyped subsidized fertilizer has also come with its fair share of criticism. Farmers are now complaining that they use two bags of fertilizer in farms where they could only use one bag of fertilizer during planting.

The recent demos in the country have spoken loud to the ears of wise men. The president admitted the demos did harm the economy and created a bad image of the country thus scaring international investors.

The effect of the opposition's failure to recognize the legitimacy of Ruto’s government cannot be underestimated. It is true that there is a sizable section of Kenyans who have refused in totality the reality that Ruto is their president.

Till the close of business today, civil servants have not received their March dues. County governments have also not received their allocations as expected thus hampering county operations and salaries.

The hustler fund that president Ruto rode on to ascend into power seems not to be bringing substantial economic growth among the hustlers owing to the little amount loaned . Critics are now calling this fund a scam.

Ruto has also faced sharp criticism from his opponents who accuse him of deliberately and intentionally selecting one of the weakest cabinets since independence rendering the government a one man show. Political analyst Augustine Omondi says that the Kenya Kwanza government is like a plane with a miracle enthusiast captain, a reformed goon copilot and a crew full of quacks.

It is seven months into  office and Ruto seems to have delivered ‘’hot hair’’ as one is left to think  either Ruto was just a motivational speaker, a smart liar or just an over ambitious fellow. Now ‘Vitu kwa ground ni different’. If President Ruto is not going to feed the hustlers a narrative he used  to ascend to power, the very hustlers may end up eating him.