Safina Party Deputy Party Leader Willis Otieno has criticised what he termed as outdated political conduct, saying Kenyans are increasingly rejecting theatrics and insults in favour of issue-based leadership.

Taking to his official X account on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, Otieno accused President Ruto and his former DP Gachagua of repeatedly engaging in what he described as public displays of verbal attacks while addressing crowds in public gatherings.

Otieno said this kind of behaviour shows a way of doing politics that is “imepitwa na wakati” (overtaken by time).

“It is not the first time Ruto is abusing people on top of the car,it is also not the first time Rigathi is abusing people on top of the vehicle, but I’m glad Kenyans are woke enough to realise that kind of politics imepitwa na wakati,” Otieno said.

Dramatic political performances

However, he said that Kenyans are becoming less tolerant of dramatic political performances that don’t lead to real change. He noted that Kenyans are increasingly asking harder questions on accountability, respect and delivery from the leaders.

“There’s a noticeable shift among Kenyans: less patience for theatrics, more demand for substance. Public consciousness is evolving ;  wananchi are increasingly asking harder questions about delivery, accountability, and respect in leadership,” Otieno said.

Otieno added that the public is no longer satisfied with dramatic displays, as they do not translate into better livelihoods. He said politics thriving on insults is steadily losing its grip on the population.

“Politics that thrives on insults and dramatic displays is steadily losing its grip because it doesn’t translate into better livelihoods,” Otieno added.

Ruto vs Gachagua Insults

President William Ruto hit back at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over recent remarks about his weight loss.

Speaking in Cheptais, Mt. Elgon, on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the Head of State urged his former deputy to focus on fitness, quipping that Gachagua’s ‘big belly’ could be behind his struggles to stay awake during official meetings.

“Kwanza nawaambia baadhi yenu mwende gym; acheni kula chakula kingi. Matumbo yamejaa hadi vichwa vinakaribia kupasuka. Mnalala kwenye mikutano hata mchana,” Ruto said.

On Monday, March 16, 2026, during the funeral of Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wah’s mother, Gachagua trolled President Ruto, claiming that he has lost weight because the opposition is giving him sleepless nights.

He teased that the United Opposition had managed to get into the President’s psyche with the constant criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration. Gachagua said that the opposition has managed to get into the President’s psyche with the constant criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“The good thing is that even with all that money, he does not sleep. You can even see how much weight he has lost. He has billions but cannot get rest