From cost of living to abductions and goofed foreign policy: Ruto's doublespeak

President William Ruto has turned out to be the master of doublespeak often making contradictory statements that are the opposite of what he practices or says at different times, depending on his audience, occasion and convenience.

When President Ruto was campaigning ahead of the 2022 General Election, he probably never imagined that sometimes, things could work against his expectations and the promises he was making, and that he would also at times be ‘forced to eat his own words’.

In his most recent tour of the Gusii region, the President stepped up the call to support young leadership, with a promise to ensure a new political order in 2032 and make way for them to move the country forward.

But this may not have settled well with some quarters, as they accused the President of pushing for recognition of young leaders while at the same time attacking and ‘branding’ some of those who have offered to challenge him in next year’s elections.

One of the young leaders who has received backlash from Ruto is Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna, with the President accusing him of not having an agenda for the country. He has repeatedly attacked his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua for allegedly frustrating young leaders instead of mentoring them for future leadership.

Gachagua has also been on the front line calling out the President over what he termed as ‘master of double speak’, and dismissed the latest call to allow young leaders to take over the reins of power as mere rhetoric, because he thinks Ruto's actions do not match his talk.

“I hear you are claiming young leaders are being denied a chance to lead! Interesting! Strange! Is that really you talking about young Kenyans? Where is Rex Masai? Where is Kennedy Onyango? Where is Albert Ojwang? Where is Erick Mutisia? Where is Ibrahim Kamau? Where is Boniface Kariuki? Where are the over 200 young people killed during the 2024 Gen Z protests and the 2025 Saba Saba protests, Mr William Ruto?” Gachagua posed, in response to the President’s call.

“Are they still the leaders of 2032? Excuse me, sir! Didn't you know that Gen Zs were young when you ordered their macabre abductions and brutal killings?... Weren't they supposed to be the leaders of tomorrow? Has it escaped your memory? Does it not prick your conscience or stir whatever humanity you may have left? He posed.

Gachagua has also been accusing Ruto of ordering abductions of young people and even ordering ‘shooting in the legs’, arrests, and charges under trumped-up terrorism charges.

Ruto has also repeatedly pledged to uphold the rule of law and stop abductions allegedly carried out by police, but currently, the disappearance of a young lawyer, Abshir Ahmedsadak Abdi, has caused a stir in the country, with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) vowing to pursue his safe return.

LSK, led by its President, Charles Kanjama, has said it will not relent until justice is served, even as they hold processions, demanding urgent action and accountability.

On Tuesday, LSK appeared in court in the Habeas Corpus proceedings arising from an advocate’s disappearance, with his abduction reported on November 1 along Muchai Road, off Ngong Road, Nairobi.

They have urged President Ruto to produce the missing advocate, protect the Constitution, end enforced disappearances, because the government has been silent for ten days of silence without answers or producing him in court.

They warned that LSK will not accept that silence and will press on with protests against continued enforced disappearances. The legal fraternity has resolved to down tools and seek adjournments in courts across the country, until their abducted colleague is produced either dead or alive.

“This is not a step we take lightly. But we cannot pretend to practise law normally in a country where lawyers can be abducted with impunity. There can be no normal court business when the liberty and life of an officer of the court is in peril. The LSK remains resolute. We shall pursue every lawful avenue — in court, on the streets, and in solidarity — until Advocate Abdi is found and produced,” they insisted.

Yet another recent issue that the President has found himself on the receiving end is fuel prices, which continue to soar.

Last month, for instance, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) prices for the October 15 – November 14, 2026 pricing cycle saw Super Petrol increase by Sh12.93 per litre, with the National Assembly Committee on Special Funds raising fears of a serious ripple effect for consumers.

The committee wondered whether the President was well advised because he pronounced himself that there would be no more fuel price increases because there was enough stock in the country.

“The President announced to the public that there will not be any more oil price rises and that is what the common mwananchi knows but looking at what happened, they are affected. The president has been pronouncing himself to the Hustler nation and now the paraffin has gone up by Sh28, which will hit the consumers,” the committee members wondered last month.

“So, is it that the president is not well advised when he is talking to the public, by EPRA? Or was the pronouncement just his thinking? I know he's the president of the nation and when he says something, it has to happen. So why is this one not happening even when we know there's an issue of war. Why can’t we get other alternatives?” they added.

The opposition also accused Ruto of double-speaking over his address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in the United States, where they took issue with his statement over the Sudan conflict.

They accused him of allegedly supporting one group while advocating for international community assistance to bring peace and also called him out for focusing on resolving Haiti's insecurity crisis when the country has been faced with an upsurge of criminal gangs and goons.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka also criticised the then deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti, terming it as unlawful noting it contravenes the United Nations Security Council's mandate.

“It is the responsibility of the UN Security Council to ensure international peace and security, but the deployment was a bilateral arrangement between Kenya and the US," he said.

But the opposition said the President's own actions in Kenya told a different story.

Ruto's government was accused of supporting RSF, a paramilitary group accused of war crimes against civilians, including rape, as reports indicated that the country hosted an RSF summit in Nairobi, where they declared the formation of a parallel government.

This was seen as a move that undermined the African Union peace efforts.

Ruto also expressed concern over the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and called for a ceasefire, respect for international law, and the release of hostages.

"The protection of civilians and respect for humanitarian law cannot be applied selectively. We cannot condemn suffering in one place and turn a blind eye in another. Kenya is gravely concerned by the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and by the immense suffering of civilians caught in the devastation of disproportionate military operations," said Ruto.

However, in Kenya, the government's treatment of young protesters was considered harsh and violent, with particular reference to June 2024, as Gen Z protested against high taxes, inflation, and poor governance.

The initial protests triggered by the Finance Bill in June 2024 reportedly saw police use live bullets, killing about 60 people and injuring hundreds.

And just last month, Ruto revealed that the government eventually passed the bill’s provisions, arguing that the legislation had been misrepresented to the public during the protests.

“We eventually passed all the clauses of the Finance Bill because there was nothing wrong,” the president stated.

Similarly, at the UN, Ruto called out the IMF and World Bank for treating Africa unfairly, arguing that these institutions favour wealthy countries with large loans on easy terms, while Africa gets small loans burdened with high interest and stringent conditions.

"During the IMF's recent allocation of special drawing rights, 64 per cent went to wealthy nations. With little need for liquidity support, they didn't need the money anyway, but they got 64 per cent while the poorer countries received just 2.4 per cent," Ruto told the world.

Yet Kenya has continually relied heavily on IMF loans, with officials travelling to Kenya several days later to discuss a new support programme.

The previous three-year $3.6 billion loan agreement expired in April last year.

He has, more often than not, found himself on the receiving end over some of his directives, sometimes finding himself at the center of ridicule from Kenyans for reneging on his own words.

Yet another issue that has been at the centre of controversy is contributions to churches, which recently elicited debate on how and where to strike the balance between faith and politics, amid raising questions of conflict of interest, in addition to where the substantial amounts of money come from.

Despite concerns on the matter, Ruto has maintained a hardline stance that his contributions are driven by his desire to support the church, saying he is aware of the flood of criticism, will continue 'giving to God' and not tire.

He took a swipe on church leaders who declined contributions, saying he will continue to build churches and 'shame the enemies'.

"Whenever we give, we do so to God. I have been trying to find where it is written in the Bible - because I am an ardent reader - that when you give to God, it is returned by the bishops. I am a product of giving to God and I'm unapologetic about giving to God and I do it on the firm foundation of the scriptures," Ruto insisted.

The President's move was against his own address, where he outlined the consequences of withdrawing the Finance Bill 2024, saying it amounted to a reduction of revenue targets by Sh346 billion.

In keeping with the enhanced austerity measures, the president said at the time, his Government was committed to implementing and aligning government expenditures with the budgetary implications of the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, 2024.

"All non-essential travel by state and public officers is hereby suspended. No state officer and public servant shall participate in public contributions/ harambees henceforth," said Ruto on July 5, 2024.

The president's directive against harambees came at the height of Gen Z protests and public outcry after senior politicians and government officials showed an informal side of extravagance, arrogance and opulence, in the midst of an economic crisis.

However, months later, the harambee culture crept back with senior state and public officers splashing millions of shillings from one fundraiser to another, in total disregard of the President’s directive.

Similarly, President Ruto promised an administration that serves all Kenyans equally without regard to political affiliation or voter but the opposition and the opposition has been condemning shrinking political space, citing increased state crackdowns, legal prosecutions, and restrictions on campaign and civic activities.

At the same time, the President pledged to lower the cost of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by reducing taxes and subsidising cylinders.

What followed were programmes intended to increase access to clean cooking energy and outlined plans aimed at expanding LPG usage but to date, six-kilogramme LPG cylinders have not reached the Sh300 to Sh500 price range referenced by the President, with fuel prices worsening the situation.

Again, Ruto positioned Kenya as a leader in clean energy, pushed for aggressive national targets and advocated for green transition funding across Africa, as he hosted tens of countries in Nairobi to deliberate the matter.

But the recent plans around the Dangote Lamu refinery project have cast doubt on this commitment, with environmentalists concerned over expected heavy carbon emissions at a time when global demand is shifting toward cleaner energy and electric transport.

Similarly, the public feud between Ruto and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya over a market, as he insisted on attempts for the President to interfere with devolution.

The Governor has maintained that the Masinde Muliro Market in Kitale was constructed using county government funds and World Bank support but the National Government wanted to take credit, as part of a campaign tool.