Prominent political commentator Kipkalya Kones has sharply criticised President William Ruto’s recent combative exchanges with opposition leaders, warning that the head of state’s rhetoric undermines the dignity of the presidency and national unity.
In a social media commentary, Kones described the ongoing war of words between Ruto and Rigathi Gachagua as a “dirty verbal slur contest” that is unbecoming of Kenya’s highest office.
The commentary comes amid heightened political tensions as the ruling administration and a growing united opposition trade increasingly personal attacks ahead of the 2027 general election.
“In the current dirty verbal slur contest between Ruto and Gachagua, Ruto must remember that he is President while Gachagua is not,” Kones said.
He emphasised that the presidency is “a symbol of national unity and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces,” a high calling that demands restraint and a measured tone.
Kones’s remarks directly confronted the president’s recent public statements in which he dismissed opposition leaders as lacking ideas, branding their conduct as “insulting” and unproductive.
The commentator specifically rebuked Ruto’s response to critical remarks about his weight, saying losing composure over personal comments shows a failure to live up to the office’s demands.
“So if you lose it when you are told that you have lost weight until your ears are flying like what Kikuyus call ‘oliktiga’, then you don’t deserve that office!” Kones said, invoking a colloquial expression to stress his point about presidential decorum.
Analysts say Ruto’s increasingly personal rhetoric reflects growing frustration with opposition criticism over economic performance and governance.
A number of public speeches have seen the president and his allies respond to opposition statements with dismissive language rather than policy rebuttals, a shift that has drawn condemnation from civil society and religious leaders.
Kones urged the president to return focus to substantive national issues, including unemployment, inflation, and security, rather than engaging in tit‑for‑tat exchanges with critics.
“The president must rise above the fray. Kenya needs leadership that unites, not rhetoric that divides," Kones concluded.