As President William Ruto marks 1,000 days in office, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has launched a stinging critique, accusing the Head of State of betraying loyal allies.

Nyutu also accused the president of failing to deliver on promises and consolidating power at the expense of trust.

Speaking in an interview with a local TV station on June 11, 2025, Nyutu claimed that Ruto’s leadership has been characterised by broken promises and calculated power plays that have seen even his closest allies discarded.

“Rigathi Gachagua was told to lie and do other dirty things, but he refused. That is when President Ruto kicked him out. President Ruto is thankless because he kicked out all his supporters once he got power,” Nyutu said, referring to the fallout that culminated in Gachagua’s impeachment in October 2024.

Nyutu painted Gachagua’s removal as part of a broader strategy by Ruto to sideline those who helped him ascend to power.

The impeachment, which saw an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly support Gachagua’s dismissal, has been seen as a dramatic illustration of political betrayal and a calculated effort to consolidate authority within the executive.

Nyutu’s remarks come against a backdrop of growing public disillusionment with Ruto’s presidency, particularly over his pledges on tax reforms and national unity.

On the economic front, Nyutu said that despite the administration’s claims of full recovery, citizens are increasingly skeptical about how revenue is being spent. “Citizens question the use of revenue collected so far,” he added, touching on a persistent concern about transparency and accountability.

Lugari Member of Parliament (MP) Nabii Nabwera, also speaking on the same panel, offered a comparative perspective.

“In President Ruto’s first 1,000 days, I give him a C. For Mwai Kibaki, I give him a B+. But Kibaki enjoyed monolithic decision-making that Ruto does not enjoy because of the new constitution,” Nabwera said.

The 2010 Constitution, which introduced checks and balances and devolved governance, has made it harder for Ruto to exercise the same level of control as his predecessors, Nabwera argued.

The milestone of 1,000 days was meant to highlight Ruto’s achievements, but it has instead become a moment of reckoning and also struck a chord with Kenyans frustrated by recent tax hikes and unfulfilled promises, Nyutu added.

As the administration moves forward, Nyutu’s sharp criticism highlights a political landscape defined by fleeting alliances and a citizenry demanding real accountability from its leaders.