Ruto’s tumultuous rule may unwittingly unite Kenyans
By Hansen Owilla, July 21, 2025Slogans aside, this regime was always going to be disruptive with its “bottom-up” economic narrative. The promises were grand before the elections, but the timelines were not clear.
The Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda seeks to empower small businesses, ‘hustlers’, and grassroots entrepreneurs, shifting from traditional elite-driven economics.
While results are mixed, the concept brought political attention to ordinary Kenyans’ economic struggles and aroused robust consciousness as transformation morphed into serious demands on the common mwananchi.
They promised affordable housing but delivered housing levies. They pledged no borrowing but denied businesses credit while the government borrows massively locally and internationally.
They promised health system changes and delivered SHIF/SHA with high levies on pay-slipped Kenyans.
These landmark initiatives may bear fruit in the long term, but whether transformation works or not, this regime’s tumultuous reign could unintentionally unite Kenyans and bury ethnicity in politics.
You see, history shows unpopular regimes can catalyse long-term political transformation. The current arrests and abductions might organise civil society, engage youth constructively, and birth credible alternatives.
This requires Kenyans breaking from historical patterns, but political elites aid that willingness daily.
Today, the former running mates of President Ruto and Raila Odinga unite against the latter’s broad-based government.
While they sing “Wantam”, the rebuttal is “Tutam”. Meanwhile, regime apologists remind us daily that “Tutam” is real, suggesting that even without delivery, they will steal votes for a second term.
Kenya’s political elite remains entrenched, and ethnic arithmetic still influences coalitions and votes. Even during national frustration, ethnicity reemerges unless there is a compelling alternative.
This regime itself emerged from tribal alliances, and only catastrophic failure of its transformative agenda would unite Kenyans behind real change, regardless of tribe.
No President after Ruto will find it easy either. Future regimes will only succeed by delivering promises and addressing people’s plight.
Ironically, both the regime and the opposition emerge as divisive and economically painful following recent protests.
This ferments a potent environment catalysing national unity, not because of successes or failures, but through shared disillusionment with a regime ostensibly correcting past injustices through ethnic vote arithmetic and fragmented opposition whose agenda is “wantam” and sloganeering.
Kenyans across ethnic lines feel equally neglected by an exclusionary regime and fragmented opposition.
Since high living costs don’t respect tribes or 2022 votes, this could fuel issue-based politics, burying ethnicity for performance, integrity, and vision.
The political class should remember: ethnic politics loses power when people are broke, hungry, and disillusioned.
But “Wantam” or “Ruto must go” without clear economic rescue plans is sloganeering to nowhere. We have a rare opportunity to move from tribe to issues, slogans to plans, elders to progressive youth, despair to action.
The writer is a media studies Researcher