Skip to main content

Ruto draws sharp Public Backlash over Constitution Remarks

 

President William Ruto has faced sharp public and online backlash over remarks made during the August 12, 2026, launch of a national conversation on Kenya’s future beyond Vision 2030.

At the event at the KICC in Nairobi, Ruto contrasted Vision 2030, developed under the pre-2010 constitutional order, with the current process under the 2010 Constitution. 

Clips circulating widely online captured him saying something to the effect of: it is important to engage the exercise “in the context of a new constitution that does not request us to consult the people… No, it is mandatory to consult the people.

Background of the remarks

Supporters and some clarifications, including from accounts reviewing fuller context, argue Ruto was referring to the 2010 Constitution itself as the “new” framework that makes public participation mandatory (unlike the older order under which Vision 2030 was crafted, where consultation was more discretionary). 

He has repeatedly emphasized that the next long-term plan should be constitutionally anchored, nationally owned and developed through genuine public participation rather than as a government or political project.

The backlash

Many Kenyans, opposition voices, and social media users interpreted the wording as a call for a new constitution that would remove or weaken the requirement to consult the public—sparking accusations of power-grabbing, dictatorship or an attempt to sideline checks, courts, and public input after repeated judicial setbacks on government policies. 

Common reactions included:

Claims that the man who once opposed the 2010 Constitution is now seeking to rewrite rules to concentrate power.

Warnings that this risks turning Kenya into a more authoritarian system (with comparisons to other countries’ constitutional changes for incumbents’ benefit).

Slogans such as “Ruto Must Go,” rejection of any constitutional engineering, and arguments that Kenya should first fully implement the existing 2010 Constitution (including socio-economic rights under Article 43) rather than rewrite it.

The controversy sits against a backdrop of existing political tensions: criticism of the administration’s delivery on cost of living, governance and earlier controversies such as media attacks, security remarks, broad-based government arrangements and so on, plus ongoing debates over presidential tenure interpretations and the upcoming 2027 election cycle.

In short, a poorly worded or decontextualized clip about strengthening mandatory public participation under the existing 2010 Constitution was widely read as advocating a new constitution that dispenses with consulting the people—triggering the sharp public backlash referenced in the headline. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kenyans surprised over UDA's 'Voters Repair' remarks for President Ruto 2027 reelection

 Kenyans are reacting strongly to remarks by some UDA leaders that many interpret as hints at election manipulation ("ukarabati ya kura" / "voters repair") ahead of the 2027 presidential election. What Happened On or around May 23, 2026, NTV Kenya and other outlets aired footage from a UDA meeting at Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula's home.  Leaders including Savula and MP Charles Gimose reportedly used phrases like "tutafanya ukarabati ya kura" (we will repair/do maintenance on the votes).  Some comments referenced high victory margins in places like Tanzania under Samia Suluhu or Museveni-style wins. This has been widely seen as implying plans to "fix" or pad results in favor of President William Ruto's reelection, rather than a literal call for better voter registration or system maintenance. Public Reaction 1. Surprise and outrage: Many Kenyans on X and social media expressed shock, viewing it as arrogant or desperate signaling am...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to commercialize your prototype innovation in Kenya

Commercializing a prototype in Kenya involves transforming your innovation from a proof-of-concept stage into a marketable product or service that generates revenue. This process requires protecting your intellectual property (IP), validating market demand, securing funding, and selecting the right business model.  Kenya has a supportive ecosystem with government agencies, grants, and innovation hubs to help.  Below is a step-by-step guide based on established practices and resources. 1. Protect Your Intellectual Property (IP) Before commercialization, safeguard your innovation to prevent copying. In Kenya, IP protection is handled by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI). Register your IP : File for patents, trademarks, copyrights, or industrial designs. Patents are crucial for inventions and provide a 20-year monopoly.  Start with a patent search to ensure novelty, then apply via KIPI's online portal. Costs range from KSh 3,000–50,000 depending on the type. Why...
Post a Comment
Read more

10 Disruptive Innovations that will evolve the World in 2021- Moving Forward

During the pandemic, tech industry reaped big resulting to dramatic technological upheavals. 5G, chatbots, cloud computing and edge computing were some of the tech applications that were on high demand in 2020. Therefore 2020 acted as a precursor of major innovation. 1. Autonomous Ride-Hailing : it is an application that determines the future of uber as it offers a menu of services to get people and services around. Self-driving vehicles were deployed in parts of the US, where vehicles picked and dropped passengers without a human driver. 2. Deep Learning , also referred as deep neural network, is a subset of machine learning in artificial intelligence (AI) that mimics the functioning of human brain in transforming data and developing patterns for decision making. Deep learning is essential in big data sourced from search engines, social media and e-commerce platforms among many others. The data is then shared through fintech applications such as cloud computing. Deep lea...
1 comment
Read more