Kalonzo rebukes Ruto’s administration over meaning of Jamhuri Day celebrations
By Joel Masibo, December 12, 2025Wiper Patriotic Front Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has marked the 2025 Jamhuri Day celebrations by criticising President William Ruto’s administration, accusing the government of betraying the values that Kenya’s independence heroes fought and died for.
In a fiery statement shared via X on Friday, December 12, 2025, Kalonzo reminded Kenyans that Jamhuri Day is not merely a ceremonial event but a solemn moment to honour men and women who risked their lives to secure dignity, freedom, justice, and truth for future generations. He warned that their sacrifices must not be distorted to justify falsehoods or misrule.
“They did not give their lives so that leaders could lie with a straight face. They fought for a nation anchored on truth, integrity, and respect for its citizens,” Kalonzo said.
‘Jamhuri does not sanctify corruption’
The former vice president outlined what he believes Jamhuri Day should never be used to legitimise. He stated that the national holiday must not be exploited to excuse corruption, state intimidation, violation of public trust, or the suffering of ordinary Kenyans whose daily struggles continue to worsen.
“Jamhuri does NOT sanctify corruption. It does NOT sanitise state-sponsored intimidation. It does NOT excuse the betrayal of public trust or the killing and shooting in the legs of your youth,” he said.
Taking direct aim at President Ruto, Kalonzo dismissed recent claims that the cost of living has begun to fall. He argued that Kenyans feel the real state of the economy every day through the prices of basic commodities such as unga, fuel, transport, and rent.
He also criticised the Hustler Fund, saying it has plunged citizens into what he termed “digital poverty,” with micro-loans that offer no real path to financial growth or escape from hardship.
While the government touts “record job creation,” Kalonzo countered that millions of young people continue to roam the streets in search of opportunities that remain out of reach.
Healthcare crisis
The Wiper Party leader further attacked the state of Kenya’s healthcare system, saying that despite promises of universal coverage, hospitals remain under-equipped and understaffed.
According to him, the troubled implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA), formerly Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), has left families still relying on fundraisers to access medical care. “That is not healthcare; that is abandonment,” he stated.
The Wiper leader also issued a stern warning regarding Ruto’s push for “alternative financing mechanisms,” including plans tied to a Ksh5 trillion national transformation project.
He said these strategies circumvent constitutional safeguards intended to ensure transparency, parliamentary oversight, and fairness across generations.
He called the move “an existential threat to the Republic of Kenya,” arguing that dismantling fiscal guardrails puts the nation at risk of unsustainable debt and unchecked executive power.
Kalonzo concluded by asserting that Jamhuri Day belongs not to leaders who “twist facts to survive politically,” but to hardworking citizens whose taxes sustain the country even as, he claimed, corruption has turned the economy into “a punishment.” He urged Kenyans to honour the republic by speaking the truth and holding the government accountable.