“Leader or Campaigner?" Ruto Accused of Abandoning Kenyans for Rallies and Deals

 

Lawyer Willis Otieno has launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto, accusing him of running the country as if he were still on the campaign trail instead of focusing on governance.

In a fiery post on X, Otieno claimed that the Head of State has failed to transition from candidate to president, arguing that Kenya is suffering because of it. 

He painted a picture of a State House that has allegedly shifted from being the center of policy and service delivery to what he described as a “marketplace of deals, corruption, and money games.”

“Ruto has never truly transitioned from candidate to head of state. He still operates as if he’s on the campaign trail; rallies, rhetoric, and politicking while governance takes a back seat,” Otieno wrote.

The lawyer alleged that while Ruto remains busy trading political influence, ordinary Kenyans are left to shoulder the burden of rising costs of living, unemployment, and stalled public services. 

He insisted that the president’s energy seems more focused on political survival than on fixing the country’s pressing issues.

Otieno’s remarks add to growing criticism from opposition leaders and civil society groups who accuse Ruto’s government of prioritizing political deals and foreign charm offensives over concrete solutions at home.

The statement comes at a time when discontent is rising over taxes, the weakened shilling, and widespread corruption allegations. 

Otieno warned that unless the president changes course, Kenyans risk being “abandoned without real leadership