Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has drawn comparisons between President William Ruto’s current development agenda and that of Kenya’s third president, Mwai Kibaki, arguing that just as people initially failed to recognize Kibaki’s impact, many are now overlooking the administration’s efforts.

Speaking during a consultative meeting with leaders from his home county of Tharaka Nithi on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Kindiki likened Ruto to the late president, predicting that he [Ruto] would, in time, earn widespread acclaim for his leadership.

He noted that Ruto is currently undertaking numerous development projects that remain unacknowledged, much like Kibaki’s early years in office.

However, he asserted that, as Ruto’s tenure nears its end, Kenyans will come to appreciate the vast scope of his contributions.

Kindiki, who was urging the leaders to rally behind him, highlighted that both Ruto and Kibaki faced immense turbulence in their first two years in office, grappling with significant national challenges after succeeding their predecessors.

He said Kibaki had a difficult time transitioning after taking over from President Daniel Moi and that Ruto, too, has been navigating a complex and contentious period following Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure.

“For the past two years, President Ruto has been dealing with exceptionally difficult challenges, just as President Kibaki did after taking over from President Moi. Kibaki’s first term was tough—he was unwell, and key figures within his administration were making unpopular pronouncements that alienated the public.”

Kibaki’s struggles and Ruto’s fate

Kindiki recounted how, within just two years of assuming office, Kibaki had become one of Kenya’s most unpopular leaders.

He recalled that when Kibaki introduced a constitutional referendum in 2005, he suffered a resounding defeat, forcing him to dissolve his entire Cabinet—an ordeal that Kindiki believes is already unfolding in President Ruto’s administration.

“Within two years, Kibaki had become the most disliked leader in the country. In 2005, only two years into his presidency, he called for a referendum and was overwhelmingly defeated. He had to dissolve his entire Cabinet, leaving only Moody Awori by his side. What is happening now has happened before.”

Transformative leadership

Kindiki insisted that the struggles Ruto is currently facing are not unprecedented, asserting that visionary leaders like him and Kibaki often encounter resistance because they drive transformative change.

He explained that transformative leaders frequently face rejection because their policies target fundamental sectors of the economy, requiring bold and often unpopular decisions.

“Why President Kibaki and President Ruto? Because any leader who envisions transforming a country’s key sectors must make difficult and often unpopular choices. Populist leaders, on the other hand, make decisions that appeal to public sentiment, avoiding the tough but necessary reforms.”

Universal healthcare

Kindiki, who had vowed to steer the discussion away from politics, later cited universal healthcare as a prime example of a crucial yet unpopular initiative.

He dismissed the notion that universal healthcare was a Kenya Kwanza invention, clarifying that previous administrations had also attempted to implement it, only for political interference to derail their efforts.

He revealed that Kibaki had intended to introduce universal healthcare, but political infighting—similar to what Ruto is currently facing—ultimately thwarted his plans.

He further noted that former President Uhuru Kenyatta had also included universal healthcare in his manifesto but shelved it during his first term due to its lack of popularity. Even when he reintroduced it in 2018 under the Big Four Agenda, political maneuvering and internal sabotage prevented it from materializing.

“Universal healthcare is not a Kenya Kwanza invention. Kibaki had planned to introduce it, but political wrangling killed the initiative. President Uhuru also included it in his manifesto but quickly abandoned it in his first term because it lacked popular support. In 2018, he revived it under the Big Four Agenda, but political interference forced him to retreat once again.”

Kindiki urged Kenyans to abandon such counterproductive tendencies, warning that persistent resistance to transformative policies would only hinder national progress, even when such initiatives are designed for their benefit.