Ruto Accuses Opposition of Inciting Youth Protests to Destabilise Economy
President William Ruto on Friday accused opposition leaders of attempting to incite young Kenyans into disruptive protests, warning that such actions could destabilise the country’s economy.
Speaking in Mombasa during the disbursement of the NYOTA programme, Ruto said the opposition was prioritising political rivalry over solutions to unemployment and economic hardship. He argued that calls for mass demonstrations were intended to weaken his administration rather than address the challenges facing citizens.
“They intend to cause chaos and destroy property, yet their main agenda is to convince you to vote for them,” he said, cautioning that unrest could cause lasting economic damage.
The President maintained that the opposition had no credible plan for development, particularly for the youth who continue to face high levels of joblessness. He urged his rivals to present concrete proposals on employment and empowerment instead of focusing on removing him from office.
“They claim their agenda is to unseat William Ruto. That is the only agenda they have,” he said, adding that young voters would not be swayed by what he described as “political noise.”
Ruto’s remarks followed threats from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who last week warned of nationwide protests if police officers accused of involvement in an attack at ACK Witima Church in Othaya were not arrested by mid-February. At a press briefing in Nairobi, Gachagua demanded that Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja take action against 12 officers allegedly linked to the incident.
“After the 16th, we will have nothing else to do but to call for protests in the Republic of Kenya,” he declared.
