Githunguri Member of Parliament (MP) Gathoni Wamuchomba has stated that the ‘Ruto must go’ chants by a section of Kenyans are valid concerns that President William Ruto cannot ignore.

In a statement on Saturday, March 29, 2025, Wamuchomba, who is an ally of the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, indicated that the chants stemmed from genuine concerns faced by ordinary Kenyans.

“The ‘Ruto Must Go’ chants are an indication of bigger issues unresolved. People are frustrated with SHA, university funding, low capitation, delayed pensions, unreliable Inua Jamii transfer service, mandatory deductions on the pay slips, and high electricity rates, unemployment, among other fundamental issues,” Wamuchomba noted.

The vocal UDA legislator equally noted that the chants were valid and well within the democratic rights of Kenyans, amid concerns raised by senior security agencies on the same in the past few days.

“Mr. President, you must listen to the noise without victimization. Article 1 of the Kenyan Constitution gives Kenyans the express role to decide on how they are governed. We are a democracy,” she added.

Kahariri’s statement

On Thursday, March 27, 2025, while addressing congregants at the National Intelligence and Research University (NIRU) in Nairobi, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Charles Kahariri noted that the ‘Must go’ chants must be carried out within the law, observing that it is the duty of the army to protect the duly-elected government.

“We, as the military, defend the Constitution and the government of the day, duly elected by the people. So, when you decide that you are tired of the government you elected and then you start chanting ‘Must Go’, ‘Must Go’, that ‘Must Go’ must be done according to the Constitution,” Kahariri said.

“We cannot exercise anarchy, and even as people exercise their rights, it should be within their bounds, within their rights, such that we cannot allow ourselves to exercise our rights to the extent of tearing apart the country,” Kahariri stated.

Mixed reactions

The remarks have drawn mixed reactions from a section of Kenyans, with some leaders maintaining that Kenyans should desist from attacking the CDF as the army primarily stands with the people.

“We are again getting it wrong by attacking the CDF. Gen Kahariri only said, ‘The #RutoMustGo must be constitutional to avoid anarchy.’ The military should be the last institution any peace-loving Kenyan should attack,” Saboti MP Caleb Amisi stated on Friday, March 28, 2025.

However, Busia County Senator Okiya Omtatah warned Kahariri against delving into national politics, stating that his role and that of the army are clearly stipulated in the constitution.

“This direct engagement in a politically charged matter violates the Constitution and the laws governing security agencies, which mandate them to remain neutral and apolitical.

“Across Africa, history warns us of the perils when security organs entangle themselves in politics. The NIS and CDF’s public remarks at the lecture, framing the ‘Ruto must go’ campaign as a threat, breach this obligation, compromising their independence,” Omtatah said in a statement on X on Friday, March 28, 2025.