Violent protests are the latest sign that Kenyan president has been unpopular for three years in office

Nairobi, Kenya (AP) – Kenyans announced “wantam” with President William Ruto Hold, a sensational slogan, a shocking slogan that they tried their best to humiliate him as a leader of the “one semester.” They stretched their index finger into the air and said Ruto must evacuate the presidency when his term expires in 2027.

For others who hoped he would be elected only three years later, even if that was a long time.

Kenya's fifth president became a very unpopular leader after two years as president after proposing active tax measures, a campaign promise that many believe is betrayal of his campaign to support the working class. Ruto said it was necessary to keep the government running.

Protests intensify

Last year, Ruto survived the tax movement as thousands of young people took to the streets to try to force him to resign. In the most violent incident that killed at least 22 people, protesters fired and tried to burn down the parliamentary building in the capital Nairobi. Ruto said this will never happen.

Now, Ruto is facing a new wave of protests, which have recently sparked amid the death of a blogger detained by police. Many Kenyans believe this incident is a symptom of Kenya’s bad rule, and the president has firmly controlled the legislature and security agencies.

“He has control over the institutions, but he has no control over the people,” said Karuti Kanyinga, an analyst and professor of development studies at the University of Nairobi. He noted that Ruto suffered such a “low level of public confidence” that he might be the most hated person in Kenya.

Kanyinga warned that Ruto may continue to rule until 2027, but as young people, opposition politicians and others try to use his example as an example in the campaign to continuously reform the Kenyan government, “violence will continue to deepen.”

Public dissatisfaction

Protesters say they want to get rid of the corrupt government, which is a characteristic of theft of public resources and the seemingly extravagant lifestyle of politicians. Some of Ruto's depreciation as “Zakayo”, referring to the biblical tax collector Zacchaeus, while others call him “Mwizi”, Kiswahili being a thief.

Demonstrators also caused a sensation over Ruto's ongoing deal, who was forced last year to terminate a deal worth about $2 billion that would put Kenya's major airports under control of the Indian group Adani Group.

The deal became public months after the security forces violently quelled anti-tax protests, rekindled public dissatisfaction and strengthened views on Ruto, who believed that Ruto was unbearable and unwilling to listen to his people.

Ruto is rare for African leaders, constantly talking about efforts to expand the tax base. He criticized new debt talks with the International Monetary Fund, saying the proposed reforms would hurt the poor while benefiting politicians and business class.

Last year, he told Harvard Business School’s 2025 class that he would not host “Bankrupt Nation.”

Protesters “have no sense that things have really changed since last year’s protests.” “There was also a lot of sadness and pain in the protests last year, which has also been trapped in the current tension.”

Peter Kairu, a 21-year-old student, agreed, saying he did not expect the government to resolve the corruption and nepotism raised by protesters.

“Until we ourselves become the change we want,” he said.

Eileen Muga, who lost his job in Nairobi, expressed security concerns about the disappearing “what the government says”.

After thousands of people marched in Nairobi last week to mark the anniversary of the anti-tax protests last year, Ruto said he would not go anywhere, warning him if there is no Kenya, and so do others.

“If we go this road, we will not have a country,” he said of the protest movement. “Yes, this country does not belong to William Ruto. This country belongs to all of us. If there is no country with William Ruto, there is no country.”

The speech is a characteristic of Ruto, highlighting why many Kenyans are also afraid of him, even if they try to challenge him.

Ruto Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen also had a strong conversation with protesters, saying they would be dealt with severely.

History of political action

As Vice President of Kenya, Ruto surpassed his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta in a frivolous power struggle lost by the president many years ago.

Photos sometimes show Ruto glowing on Kenyatta. Local media reported that when Ruto was so angry with his boss, he felt that he wanted to hit him. The two embodied an intimate, almost fraternal relationship in the first semester, but fell quickly as Kenyatta tried to tear down Ruto's swing on the formal bureaucracy.

Ruto won the 2022 presidential election, beating opposition leader Raila Odinga, who was supported by Kenyatta. Since then, Ruto has chosen Odinga, making him a political ally, but also canceling potential rivals for the next election.

Ruto fell down with his agent, Rigathi Gachagua, during the first two years of his presidency. In October, the ruling party legislator shot each of Gachagua in parliamentary proceedings, saying he had nothing to do with him. Gachagua insists that the MPs acted in the incitement of Ruto.

Political analyst Macharia Mune said Ruto did what Kenyatta chose not to do to Ruto, and some viewed Gachagua's removal as another sign that Ruto was intolerant and unable to trust.

When he ran for president, Ruto positioned himself as an outsider and gathered in election support to become the leader of the so-called “scammer state”, which he said would empower ordinary Kenyans economically.

The strategy has attracted millions of strategies that struggle with unemployment and inequality. His supporters are usually informal businessmen, passenger motorcycle riders and market women. Ruto also aligns with the evangelical Christian movement, seeing the Bible frequently and preaching on the pulpit.

After taking office, Ruto talked about the urgent need to make Kenya’s debt sustainable. A few months later, taxes were increased in the controversial financial bill. He also canceled fuel subsidies that many Kenyans took for granted.

“I think it's an overproposal and inadequate issue,” said lawyer Eric Nakhurenya, a government policy analyst. “That's why Kenyans get angry.”

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Muhumuza reports on Kampala, Uganda.