President William Ruto has brushed off the growing calls by opposition leaders for his resignation, challenging them to offer a viable alternative plan instead of inciting violence and unrest in the country.
Speaking amid rising political tensions and nationwide anti-government protests, the Head of State dismissed chants of “Ruto must go” as empty rhetoric unless accompanied by a lawful and constructive strategy.
“If it is a question of terms, the Constitution has already sorted out and settled the issue of term limits. You can either be one or two-term… You cannot have more than that. So what is this craze about terms?” the President asked.
He continued, “If it is Ruto must go, then tell me how you want me to go. What do you mean by Ruto must go? How do I go? Because we have a Constitution in place.”
The President made the remarks on Friday during the International MSMEs Day celebrations in the wake of violent protests that erupted across several counties on Wednesday, June 25, leaving businesses vandalised, jobs lost, and several people injured.
“If you want Ruto to go, look for a better plan. Violence will not, anarchy will not. It will not sort out our country. Let’s be honest with one another,” he said.
Ruto challenged opposition leaders and critics to present policy alternatives that outperform his administration’s development agenda, which he said is already addressing job creation and cost-of-living challenges.
“Do the honourable thing. Develop a better plan than the one I have—one that creates more jobs, lowers the cost of living, that creates more opportunities for the young people of Kenya,” he said. “You cannot replace a plan that is working that you do not like, with no plan.
Visibly frustrated by what he described as incitement based on “hate and violence,” the Head of State reiterated that political change must be rooted in persuasion, not destruction.
“Please! There are very few fools in Kenya. Persuade us. If you persuade us, I can also go and concentrate on farming and help in food security. But don’t burn the country—for heaven’s sake, we don’t have another country.”
Ruto also directed pointed criticism at religious and political leaders whom he accused of fueling unrest.
“I want to ask the religious and political leaders who are encouraging this movement towards violence and chaos and anarchy… what is your plan?”
He warned that Kenya risks sliding into instability if protests continue on their current trajectory, emphasizing that the nation belongs to all Kenyans—not to the President, nor to his opponents.
“If we go this route, we will not have a country. And the country does not belong to William Ruto—it belongs to all of us. And if there is no country for William Ruto, there is no country for you,” he said.
The President’s remarks come in the aftermath of the June 25 protests, which saw widespread destruction across Nairobi and other major towns. Ruto decried the violence, saying the disruption had left thousands without livelihoods.
“We had many people with jobs on June 24th. On 25th, their jobs went up in flames. And we have others telling us that the 25th was successful. Really? With so many people hurt, many businesses destroyed… was it really successful?” Ruto posed.
He consequently directed security agencies to move with speed in identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators of the June 25th chaos and violence, affirming that the government’s commitment to enforce the rule of law by protecting lives and livelihoods.