Echoes of Colonialism: President Ruto and the Return of Colonial Shadows Redemption Through Sacrifice This country was redeemed through the paramount sacrifices made by our ancestors. Their relentless struggle against colonial oppression is the reason we can proudly identify ourselves as an independent nation today. Our flag, a symbol of pride and honor, waves as a testament to the hard work and immense sacrifices made by those who came before us. Through their glorious achievement, we stand as a free nation. They laid down their precious possessions, belongings, and lives to build this beautiful land. Yet, after President Ruto assumed power, he has seemingly established a new form of colonization—one where those who exploit the land our ancestors died for are given free rein. The New Colonizers: Rituals and Regressions Not long after his appointment, Ruto returned from trips to the UK and US, and with much fanfare, invited 40 preachers to consecrate State House. He claimed this was a legal and religious obligation to cleanse the ground and break any evil altars raised before his tenure. Historically, church leaders both encouraged and participated in the exploitation of foreign lands, often under the guise of Christian conversion. They justified colonization as necessary for saving souls and seizing lands for the growth of the Church. Christian missionaries were often the first to make inroads into new lands, bringing with them their religious and cultural customs along with a paternalistic attitude towards Indigenous populations. In his ignorance, ego, and infatuation with Western modernization, Ruto has followed in the footsteps of the very perpetrators our ancestors fought against. He has justified their conquests. Our ancestors went naked, faced torture, and shed blood for our independence. It is their blood that we walk on every day. But what did they labor for? What did they shed their blood to gain if we can't follow their footsteps? Just because we were fortunate enough to inherit something called freedom? Ruto's frequent visits to former colonial powers are reminiscent of the allure of colonialism—a chance to recruit, and often enslave, Indigenous people to benefit foreign powers. Broken Promises and Disastrous Governance It is no surprise that his work has borne little fruit. Nearly three years have passed since Ruto was sworn in as the fifth president of this great nation. He assumed power at a time when Kenya faced rising food and fuel prices, high unemployment, a worrying debt burden, and poor living conditions. During his campaign, Ruto promised to fix the economy, afflicted by corruption and exclusive governance, through his "hustler vs. dynasties" narrative. He vowed to place the youth and the poor at the center of economic policy, to address ethnicized politics, and to uphold constitutionalism and the rule of law. Ruto’s promises became a beacon of hope for many who believed in his vision. We believed that our lives would never be the same again. The rule of law and constitutionalism were supposed to be the foundations of his economic planning and development, governance, and equitable sharing of national resources. We believed these principles would protect us from impunity, lawlessness, and political instability. He identified the major issues that required urgent attention, convincing many of us that he was the chosen one sent from heaven to liberate us from economic challenges. I, too, was made to believe that he was the man to lead us to the promised land, a land of milk and honey. His promises were like those of Moses to the Israelites. Disasters and Betrayal But just over two years into his presidency, Ruto is nowhere near fulfilling anything he promised. Instead, since he took office, it has been one disaster after another. Kenya has witnessed numerous calamities, from the devastating drought of 2022 to endless road accidents, massive flooding, landslides, unexplainable deaths, protests, public works strikes, and corruption scandals. His incompetent administration continues looting taxes while doing nothing to alleviate the suffering of the people. President Ruto has overseen a calculated massacre against peaceful protesters who took to the streets to oppose the punitive Finance Bill 2024. The very man who vowed to uphold the rule of law and protect the freedom of the young and the poor turned against peaceful protesters, resulting in 23 deaths caused by police shootings nationwide. There were over 50 arrests, 22 abductions, and over 300 injuries. Just two months before mass protests erupted against planned tax increases, torrential rains hit East Africa, claiming many lives and leaving hundreds of thousands displaced. The extreme weather caused flooding, landslides, and widespread destruction. Over 300 people died in Kenya, and more than 293,000 were displaced—the highest number of deaths in East Africa. Many Kenyans blame the government for failing to adequately ...
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