President William Ruto’s public apology during the National Prayer Breakfast has stirred fresh calls for accountability from opposition leaders, who insist that words alone are not enough without real, tangible action.

Opposition parties, under the Party of Liberal Progress (PLP), responded, urging the President to go beyond speeches and deliver justice to victims of past abuses.

In a strongly worded statement shared on the PLP Party’s X account on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, they reminded Ruto that if his apology is truly sincere, it must be accompanied by decisive measures to uphold human rights and democratic principles.

“Together with members of opposition political parties, we take note of President William Ruto’s apology and reconciliatory tone during the National Prayer Breakfast and remind him that it must be accompanied by tangible action if it is to carry meaning to the people of Kenya,” the statement read in part.

They demanded the prosecution of those behind abductions, torture, and the attempted silencing of citizens—crimes that, they argue, have become alarmingly common under his watch. Families affected by extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, they said, deserve full reparations.

Further, they called for the immediate withdrawal of what they termed as draconian legislative proposals aimed at stifling digital freedoms and freedom of expression.

Of particular concern were attempts to regulate social media, which the opposition leaders said remains one of the last remaining avenues for civic engagement and public accountability.

They also condemned what they described as the abuse of the criminal justice system to target political opponents.

As chair of the East African Community (EAC), Ruto was also urged to champion democratic values beyond Kenya’s borders. The opposition accused the president of remaining silent while governments in the region crack down on dissenting voices.

“We further urge the President, as Chair of the East African Community (EAC), to lead by example and call upon his counterparts—President Samia Suluhu of Tanzania and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda—to respect the principles and spirit of the EAC Treaty. The escalating repression of opposition leaders and dissenting voices across the region cannot be ignored and tolerated,” the statement added.

Referring to the recent deportation of Kenyan activists from Tanzania, the opposition defended visits by figures like Martha Karua and Boniface Mwangi to Uganda and Tanzania as expressions of solidarity, not provocation.

They argued that their presence at trials of regional opposition leaders, including Tundu Lissu, was in line with the spirit of East African unity and cooperation.

“Let us remind the nation: what took Hon. Martha Karua and a delegation of Kenyan citizens to Uganda and later to Tanzania was not provocation, but a show of pan-African solidarity with opposition leaders who are facing treason charges under repressive regimes,” the opposition said.

They criticised Ruto’s silence during these incidents, saying he failed to protect or even acknowledge the humiliation of fellow Kenyans by foreign authorities.

“If he cannot defend us now, will he defend us when the stakes are higher?” they questioned.

If the President is indeed remorseful, we call upon him to demonstrate his commitment by:
– Bringing to justice those responsible for the abduction, torture, and attempted silencing of Kenyan citizens whose basic rights were grossly violated.

– Offering full reparations to… pic.twitter.com/37Pvoq4FU0

— People's Liberation Party (PLP) (@PLPartyKenya) May 28, 2025

Ruto’s apology

In his speech delivered earlier, President Ruto extended an olive branch to Kenyans, especially the youth, acknowledging past missteps by his administration.

He expressed regret over actions that may have hurt citizens, especially during the turbulent 2024 anti-tax protests that led to violent crackdowns and deaths.

“To our children, if there is any misstep, we apologise. We want to build a relationship that will make our country great,” the head of state expressed.

Adding;

“I ask us as a people to work together, to do less of finding fault and do more of building bridges that can make us a greater nation. I am confident about the future of Kenya, and I do not doubt that Kenya is truly a blessed nation. The future, no matter what happens, is going to be greater than our past.”

During his prayer breakfast address, President Ruto also extended apologies to Tanzania and Uganda to ease tensions.

“Our neighbours from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, forgive us. Our friends from Uganda, if there is anything that Kenyans have done that is not right, we want to apologise,” he said.

Tensions have recently flared between Kenya and Tanzania after the deportation of Kenyan activists who had attended court proceedings involving Tundu Lissu. The incident ignited a fierce online spat between citizens of both countries, further straining regional relations.

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