Silverio Omari
Lawyer and Safina party’s Deputy Leader Willis Otieno has said that President William Ruto’s political acumen is being tested as he tries to balance the demands of Generation Z with his political survival strategy. During a panel interview on Daybreak, Otieno expressed that Ruto’s attempt to gain legitimacy with the Gen Z demographic through Azimio’s Raila Odinga will not succeed.
On July 10, 2024, Raila and Ruto called for a dialogue to determine the country’s new path forward. However, Gen Zs rejected this approach, arguing that the president does not need dialogue to implement critical demands such as arresting rogue police officers who killed peaceful protestors. Otieno opined that this strategy would fail as the youth currently distrust all political entities, emphasizing that Raila does not represent them. He suggested that the only way to restore public trust is through elections where people can choose their leaders. “Kenyans have reclaimed their sovereignty. What President Ruto is trying to do is recreate legitimacy, but he cannot speak on behalf of the Gen Z protests. When Raila first called for dialogue, the people responded by saying, ‘keep off, this is our protest,'” the lawyer said.
“You will not gain legitimacy from Raila. We must find a way for the people to give back their reclaimed sovereignty to an elected group. This cannot be done through boardroom deals; it must be through the ballot, and Ruto can contest the elections if he wishes.”
For many decades, Raila has been seen as the ‘political savior,’ aiding past presidencies during tough times, solidifying his enigmatic status in politics.
However, the Gen Z protests have turned the political landscape upside down, with the youth clearly stating they are leaderless and driven by a desire for accountability and good governance, rather than political narratives. This has left the opposition uncertain about calls for dialogue, as they have not agreed on a unified approach. Fellow Azimio leaders have urged Raila to abandon the dialogue approach, arguing that President Ruto must face the hostility from Gen Zs alone.
“Dialogue with Ruto is definitely a poisoned chalice. We know where Kenyans want him to go, and that is home. Talking to Ruto only ensures his survival until 2027, and it benefits only him,” Siaya Governor James Orengo said in Kakamega on July 13, 2024.
