President William Ruto’s threat on Sunday, June 15, 2025, not to hand over power to the opposition if he loses the 2027 general election undermines democratic principles and poses a grave danger to Kenya’s political stability.

Addressing churchgoers in Lugari, Kakamega county, Ruto declared he would never hand over power to an opposition that he claims lacks any plan to move Kenya forward and is promoting tribalism.

He claimed the opposition’s plan begins and ends with their trademark rally cry: ‘Ruto must go.’

Ruto’s threat echoes dangerous precedents set by authoritarian regimes worldwide. Leaders seeking to justify prolonged stays in power often argue that their opposition lacks the vision, stability or competence to govern.

President Daniel Arap Moi used the same reasoning to resist multiparty democracy and entrench his KANU authoritarian rule – until Western pressure forced change in the early 1990s.

Such rhetoric is a hallmark of leaders who refuse to accept democratic checks on their power, opting instead for “benevolent” rule under the guise of protecting the nation from perceived chaos.

For Kenya, which has experienced political instability and violence, such rhetoric is especially perilous.

It reminds us of the volatility that arises when power becomes concentrated in a single leader or party and when opposition voices are silenced or marginalised.

Since silencing Gen Z protests and entering a bromance with former Prime Minister and ODM party leader Raila Odinga, the President has exhibited dictatorial tendencies witnessed during the reigns of Zaire’s Mobutu Sese Seko, Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, Moi, and Uganda’s Idi Amin and currently Yoweri Museveni – leaders who believed they were anointed by heaven to rule.

One of the most dangerous implications of Ruto’s declaration is its potential to erode public trust in Kenya’s electoral system.

By questioning the opposition’s competence and suggesting they may not receive power, the President inadvertently casts doubt on the electoral process’ fairness and credibility.

If power is not transferred smoothly, or if one side refuses to acknowledge the other’s legitimacy, it creates an environment of suspicion and distrust.

President Ruto’s threats endanger not only democracy but also national cohesion. Such threats feed the dangerous idea that power is a personal possession rather than a public trust.