Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Deputy Leader Cleophas Malala has publicly questioned President William Ruto’s conduct, raising concerns about his mental fitness to lead amid personal attacks on opposition politicians.
Malala made the remarks during an interview on Spice FM on Thursday, citing specific phrases Ruto has used in recent public engagements.
Malala said Kenyans deserve clarity on the president’s “state of mind,” noting that Ruto’s rhetoric has shifted from policy debate to personal attacks.
“Kenyans would like to know, is the president in the correct state of mind? We have seen presidents across this world, and we have never seen a president behaving the way William Ruto is behaving right now,” Malala said.
He highlighted comments where Ruto accused the opposition of “having no agenda, no clear plan”, urging its leaders to focus on policy solutions rather than personality-driven politics.
“Our plan is simple, remove President William Ruto from power,” Ruto was quoted as saying, adding that without substantive policies, “they will see dust.”
Ruto has also told critics to “stop focusing on me” and instead present concrete proposals on jobs, the economy, and national development.
In Kisumu in January, he challenged opposition chants such as “one-term” and “Kasongo must go,” asking, “Hiyo sio sera? Hiyo ni mpango? Hiyo ni maono?”
Malala said such language raises concerns about presidential conduct.
“We cannot have a president who is yapping left, right and centre, abusing people, using unpalatable words to describe leaders,” he said, warning that rhetoric focused on personal critique damages public confidence in leadership.
The remarks come as political tension rises ahead of the 2027 general election. Opposition figures argue that dismissive language from the president distracts from pressing national issues such as unemployment, inflation, and governance challenges.
While Malala did not propose legal action, he emphasised that public trust requires leaders to respect institutions and focus on national issues. He said the presidency should rise above personal attacks and urged all political leaders to elevate public debate.
Government allies have defended Ruto, saying his comments reflect robust political engagement and are responses to opposition strategies.
Analysts note that Malala’s intervention highlights growing concern over political polarisation and the impact of combative rhetoric on national unity.