One World

The presidential candidate launched a thinly-veiled swipe at President Uhuru Kenyatta’s endorsement of long-term rival Raila Odinga, who will face Ruto on 9 August. Kenyan presidential candidate and Deputy President William Ruto has labelled the political system a ‘mongrel’ after President Uhuru Kenyatta endorsed long-term rival Raila Odinga for president. Speaking at Chatham House in London, Ruto, who has served as Kenyatta’s deputy president since 2013, argued that there must be “clear demarcation” between opposition and government and said that the government is “blurring the lines” following Kenyatta’s Odinga endorsement. “The result you see today in Kenya is there is no government and no opposition, you have a mongrel of a governance system… The leader of the opposition [Odinga] is a project of the system and the deep state of government… the leader of what is supposed to be the ruling party [Kenyatta] is actually a supporter or refugee in the opposition party,” he said. R...

By John Muthoga Wambugu   The recent elections in Kenya had a profound impact on the country's economy, resulting in contraction and significant challenges for the new administration led by President Ruto. This article explores how the elections contributed to the economic downturn, the failures of the current administration to address the contraction, and the potential for the Kenyan economy to rebound. Election-induced Economic Contraction: The uncertainty and political instability surrounding last year's elections created a negative business environment. Investors hesitated, and consumer confidence dropped, leading to a contraction in various sectors of the economy. Local dairies, for instance, faced reduced demand and lower production due to decreased consumer spending. Failures of the Ruto Administration: Despite high expectations, the Ruto administration has struggled to implement effective economic policies to counter the co...

Prepared by John Wambugu The alleged kidnapping and assault of Dennis Itumbi in December 2021 became one of the most controversial political and human rights incidents in Kenya’s recent history. The incident sparked national debate about political intimidation, freedom of expression, digital activism, and the safety of outspoken government critics in the country. Although the exact motive behind the attack was never officially established, the circumstances surrounding the incident raised serious concerns among human rights organizations, political leaders, and members of the public. At the time of the incident, Dennis Itumbi was widely known as a digital strategist and a close political ally of then-Deputy President William Ruto. He was also one of Kenya’s most influential online political communicators, using social media and digital platforms to comment on governance, political rivalries, corruption allegations, and state operations. His strong online presence and outspoken politica...