Former Agriculture Minister Kipruto Arap Kirwa has accused President William Ruto of consistently crafting political narratives that position him as an underdog by blaming various enemies throughout his political career.

Speaking during an interview with a local station on Thursday, April 8, 2026, Kirwa claimed that Ruto has, over the years, relied on shifting political monsters to galvanise support and win elections.

Kirwa traced the pattern back to the 2007 Kenyan general election, alleging that divisive ethnic alignments were used to rally political backing, particularly framing certain communities against others.

“President William Ruto, since time immemorial or since he entered politics, has always had to look for a monster to blame. You remember in 2013 – or let’s go back to 2007 – they were able to coin the word ’41-1′. Where it meant the rest of the country against the Kikuyu nation, and it worked,” Kirwa said.

Same tactics

He argued that similar tactics were deployed in subsequent elections.

In reference to the 2013 Kenyan general election, Kirwa said the alliance between Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta capitalized on cases at the International Criminal Court, turning the elections into what he described as a mission to “save” the two leaders from prosecution.

“In 2013, he was able to marshal the country between himself to blame it on The Hague, saying that it was a referendum against The Hague. And therefore it became a point of salvaging the two brothers so that they would not be taken to The Hague,” Kirwa said.

“Although, subsequently, they went there and came back having won the election and having also won rounds of litigation at The Hague.”

2017 general election

He further pointed to the 2017 Kenyan general election, claiming that opposition leader Raila Odinga was subjected to sustained political attacks and ridicule as part of a broader campaign strategy.

“And fast forward, in 2017, the issue of The Hague was almost resuscitated, but now they realised there was somebody to blame in 2017. They called Raila ‘Mganga’, ‘Mzee wa Vitendawili’, and many other things. So Raila became their monster conveniently in 2017,” Kirwa noted.

Kirwa also referenced the 2022 Kenyan general election, where Ruto’s “hustlers versus dynasties” narrative gained traction and helped propel him to the presidency.

“President Ruto has been trying to look for which monster to blame so that he can play the underdog and win the election,” Kirwa said.