Ruto’s Love Affair with Grand Promises
In December 2002, as President Mwai Kibaki took his oath of office, he made a solemn pledge: No more roadside declarations. His words were not mere rhetoric; they were a direct response to decades of whimsical governance where powerful individuals made policies on a whim, often without due regard for the legal procedures set out in the Constitution or existing legal framework. The promise was a breath of fresh air. Kenyans had grown weary of an era where major government decisions were announced on campaign trails, funerals, or impromptu public gatherings. Under Kibaki’s leadership, structured policymaking and implementation took root, with the introduction of a long term plan as outlined in Kenya’s Vision 2030 that became Kenya’s development blueprint. Though the culture of erratic roadside declaration did completely die, it was minimized in Kibaki’s government only to be resurrected in Uhuru’s government when projects were launched or promised and never delivered. .
Fast forward to 2025, and it seems roadside declarations have not only been resurrected but are thriving with unmatched vigor. If President William Ruto had a superpower, it would be the ability to make grand, often absurd promises with the ease of a street magician pulling rabbits out of a hat. His words flow like a river in flood—unstoppable, overwhelming, and sometimes sweeping away constitutionalism in its path.
Chapati Machines
Ruto, ever the populist, promised The Dishi na County feeding program, a machine that can churn out one million chapatis a day. One million chapatis! Just for perspective, that’s enough to feed the entire population of Mombasa in a single sitting. The logistics? Budget? Implementation? Minor details that would, presumably, sort themselves out later.
In just five days of a whirlwind Nairobi tour, President Ruto delivered a buffet of promises that left even mama mboga and hustlers rubbing their eyes in disbelief. First came the declaration that identity card fees, which had been gazetted by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki in May, would be scrapped. Just like that—poof! No policy document, no consultation, just a mic and a presidential roadside declaration that ends there.
A Constitution Collecting Dust?
Now, here’s the problem. Kenya is not governed by folk tales and campaign rhetoric; it is governed by the Constitution. Article 10 of the 2010 Constitution enshrines public participation as a core national value. Policy-making is not meant to be an impromptu affair where a leader wakes up, holds a rally, and changes the law at will. The Constitution is clear—there must be due process, structured policymaking, and engagement with relevant institutions.
Additionally, Article 129 states that “Executive authority derives from the people and shall be exercised in accordance with this Constitution.” This means that any policy, declaration, or government action must be rooted in legal frameworks, not in roadside pronouncements that sound good in the heat of the moment but collapse under scrutiny or even challenged through legal process.
Governance Shouldn’t Be a Circus
While some may find Ruto’s grand pronouncements entertaining—akin to a political Netflix series with weekly plot twists—the reality is that governance is not a circus. Populist declarations may win applause, but they create administrative nightmares. Policies require planning, budgeting, feasibility studies, and legal backing. Introducing and Scrapping ID fees is like creating a problem and offering a solution.
Even the Bible warns against building houses on sand. Matthew 7:26-27 (NIV):
“But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Roadside governance is just that—shaky, unpredictable, and ultimately unsustainable. Kenya deserves better. We need leadership that respects institutions, upholds the Constitution, and ensures that policies are not just catchy sound bites but well-thought-out frameworks designed to benefit citizens in the long run.
Let Roadside Declarations Rest in Peace
Perhaps it is time for Kenyans to remind their leaders that governance is not a stand-up comedy show, nor is it a series of viral clips meant for TikTok engagements “govertisement “ as the Archbishop puts it.. Policy must be made in boardrooms, not at political rallies. We have a Constitution for a reason—so that the rule of law prevails over the whims of individuals.
A Life Saved: The Power of Wellness for Human Rights Defenders
The call was urgent, impossible to ignore. The Wangu Kanja Foundation sounded the alarm – a plea for psychosocial support for human rights defenders, those who bear the weight of injustice yet rarely have a safe space to unburden their own pain. The stories were raw, the need undeniable. We knew we had to act.
In response, we launched a Training of Trainers initiative, equipping defenders with the tools to heal, rebuild, and carry on. Justice work is relentless, but so is the human spirit when given the right care. Through non-medical healing models, we created a space where resilience could flourish, where those who fight for others could finally find solace for themselves. And once again, we witnessed lives transformed.
One of those lives was Atis, not her real name.
She had spent years standing up for others, amplifying silenced voices, and fighting against injustice. The world saw her as unbreakable. But in the quiet of her own struggles, she felt alone. That night, exhaustion and despair had consumed her. A neatly written note lay beside her bed- her final words prepared. Beneath it, a steel wool concoction sat waiting.
Then, a knock on the door. A friend stood there, breathless, urging her to attend a wellness training session the next morning. Atis hesitated. What difference would it make? But with nothing to lose, she chose to go. That decision saved her life.
The three-day Wellness Training of Trainers, organized by Ni Sisi! in partnership with the Wangu Kanja Foundation, was no ordinary workshop. It was a sanctuary – a space where defenders could finally pause, breathe, and focus on their own well-being. As participants arrived, most of them women, a lingering question filled the air: Why do male human rights defenders still struggle to seek psychosocial support? The answer remained buried under layers of expectation and stigma. But here, in this space, healing had no gender.
The first session began with Privilege Mapping, an eye-opening exercise that uncovered the invisible forces shaping each participant’s journey. Some saw their unspoken advantages; others felt seen in their struggles for the first time. The room filled with quiet revelations. Empathy grew in the spaces between them.
Then came the question that cut through the air: Who takes care of the caregivers? Facilitator Salima Macharia guided them through the Johari Window, urging them to explore who they were beyond their roles as defenders. “Keep looking at your window,” she said, “adjust accordingly.” Atis sat still, reflecting. Who was she beyond the causes she fought for? Beyond the expectations placed upon her? Beyond the exhaustion? It was a question she had never dared to ask.
By day two, the emotional toll was undeniable. The morning check-in revealed what many had ignored for years. “I don’t remember the last time I had a full night’s sleep,” someone admitted. Another sighed, “My body is always in work mode-I never switch off.” The realization was heavy: the very people fighting for others had long abandoned themselves.
The session on stress management shattered the silence around burnout. Salima explained the science of stress, its emotional and physical grip. “Stress isn’t just in your head,” she said. “It’s in your body too. If we don’t address it, it finds other ways to manifest.” Participants opened up, sharing their triggers, their exhaustion, and their breaking points. One voice echoed what many felt: “I’ve been running on empty. If I don’t take care of myself, how can I take care of my community?”
By the final day, something had shifted. This was more than personal healing-it was about collective care. Participants worked on actionable plans to integrate wellness into their advocacy. They left not just with tools but with a renewed sense of purpose. The East Africa Wellness Resource Hub reaffirmed its commitment to creating safe spaces for civic actors, ensuring they had room to heal, to breathe, to keep going.
And Atis? She walked out a different person. The woman who had nearly ended her life now carried hope, not just for herself, but for those she fought for. She had learned that rest is part of resistance, healing is part of justice, and saving a movement starts with saving oneself.
That night, she went home. But she did not return to her note. She did not return to the concoction under her bed. She returned to life.
National Integrity Alliance – Comments on the Draft Anti Corruption Laws (Amendment) Bill 2025
Call for Lasting Peace and Urgent Humanitarian Support in Eastern DRC
Nairobi, Kenya – 10th February 2025
Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi Ltd. expresses deep concern over the ongoing violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its devastating impact on civilians. While we acknowledge the recent ceasefire, we wish to add our voice to the statement released by civil society organizations (CSOs) in East and Southern Africa, calling for the protection of DRC’s sovereignty and the de-escalation of regional tensions. We emphasise that only a lasting and just peace can bring real relief to affected communities and ensure that life-saving aid reaches those in desperate need.
For decades, the people of eastern DRC have endured relentless violence fueled by the global demand for the region’s vast mineral wealth. This crisis, one of the longest and deadliest in modern history, represents a systematic and calculated genocide that the world has chosen to ignore. Its roots trace back to the brutal era of King Leopold II, when Congo was treated as his personal property, and have since persisted through colonial exploitation, ethnic tensions, foreign interference, direct expansionism and exploitation by neighbouring countries, armed militias, and unregulated competition over natural resources. The DRC has become the playfield for regional and international criminals, rogue agencies and governments. The treatment of the suffering and death of the people of the DRC as collateral damage must be stopped at all cost.
Despite peace agreements, armed groups—including M23, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), and various local militias—continue to exploit instability, terrorizing civilians and perpetuating cycles of violence. The toll on DRC population is staggering: millions displaced, critical infrastructure destroyed, and access to necessities such as healthcare, food, and clean water severely compromised.
Recent reports from our partners in the DRC highlight gruesome atrocities, including mass rape and the burning alive of several women following the jailbreak at Munzenze Prison on 27th January 2025. We strongly condemn these crimes and demand immediate, independent investigations to hold perpetrators accountable.
Call to Action
We urge the UN Security Council to exert maximum pressure on all state and non-state actors involved in the conflict, as outlined in the 2024 Midterm Report of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the UN Security Council. A return to meaningful negotiations is essential—but only if the international community demands immediate and sustained action to ensure unrestricted humanitarian access and address the root causes of the crisis.
Key Priorities
Legal Action Against Perpetrators of Conflict
- The DRC government must take decisive legal action against those fueling violence, including state and non-state actors supporting armed groups.
- International and regional courts must prosecute violations of international humanitarian law, human rights abuses, and illicit resource exploitation.
- An international tribunal must be convened to:
- Recognize the ongoing killings of civilians in DRC as the longest genocide in history and provide mechanisms for reparations for the people of DRC.
- End the systematic looting of DRC’s natural resources, which continues to fund armed conflicts.
- Uphold DRC’s sovereignty and prevent illegal resource exploitation.
- Hold accountable all individuals, corporations, and foreign entities benefiting from stolen minerals.
Strengthened Regional and International Diplomatic Efforts
- The African Union (AU), East African Community (EAC), and Southern African Development Community (SADC) must lead peace negotiations that address both the political and economic drivers of the conflict.
- The United Nations must impose stricter sanctions on individuals, corporations, and governments financing armed groups.
- A high-level peace and security summit must be convened to establish a binding roadmap for lasting peace in eastern DRC. This process must be shielded from the influence of states and political leaders with vested interests in the conflict.
Increased Humanitarian Assistance and Civilian Protection
- Immediate deployment of humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies, and shelter, to assist displaced populations.
- Strengthened protection mechanisms for women and children, who are disproportionately affected by the conflict.
- Enhanced peacekeeping efforts to establish safe zones for displaced civilians.
Economic Justice and Resource Governance Reform
- The DRC government must implement transparent governance reforms in the extractive sector to curb illicit mineral trade.
- Stronger legal frameworks and independent monitoring mechanisms must be established to ensure accountability in resource management.
- Greater investment in sustainable, community-driven economic initiatives to reduce reliance on war economies and empower local populations.
The people of eastern DRC cannot continue to be ignored. They deserve security, justice, and the opportunity to rebuild their lives. We call on governments, regional bodies, and international organizations to act decisively and without delay.
The suffering of millions must no longer be met with silence or inaction—the time for urgent intervention is now.
Dr. Kawive, Wambua
Ag. Chief Executive Officer
Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi Ltd.