List Of Promises William Ruto Reneged On After Assuming Office

• One key message William Ruto upheld in the run-up to the hotly-contested polls was his relation to people at a grassroots level
• Thousands of people flocked to the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani to watch William Ruto take the oath of office
• Having come from humble beginnings, Ruto described himself as a hustler and promised to empower Kenyans at the bottom
• But most of Ruto's pledges are unfulfilled as he confronts the reality of government and balancing competing national interests

Nairobi - On Tuesday, September 13, 2022, William Ruto was sworn in as Kenya's fifth post-independence president at a pomp-filled ceremony after his narrow victory in a bitterly fought but largely peaceful election.

Tens of thousands of people joined regional heads of state at a packed Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani to watch him take the oath of office.

"I William Samoei Ruto, in full realisation of the high calling I assume as president of Kenya, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the public of Kenya, that I will obey, preserve and protect this constitution of Kenya," he said.

Kenya Kwanza's economic relief programmes

One key message Ruto upheld in the run-up to the hotly-contested polls was his relation to people at a grassroots level.

For instance, the then-Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate promised to focus economic relief programmes on the lower class and make the common person a major priority in his administration.

Having come from humble beginnings, Ruto described himself as a hustler and promised to empower Kenyans at the bottom, knowing firsthand what it's like to be at that level.

But today, as Kenyans mark one year since the August 9, 2022 polls, most of his pledges are unfulfilled as Ruto confronts the reality of government and balancing competing national interests.

William Ruto's failed promises

Against this backdrop, TUKO.co.ke reviews some of Ruto's failed promises since assuming office.

1. Upholding the constitution and respecting the judiciary

- He ignored a court ruling on Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs)

- He also ignored the court ruling on the controversial Finance Act 2023

- Ruto also included the likes of Cleophas Malala in his Cabinet contrary to a court ruling

2. Professional police service and will not be used to settle political scores

- Arrest of opposition leaders on tramped up charges e.g. Babu Owino, MP Ken Chonga, Anthony Oluoch, George Aladwa, Raila Odinga's bodyguard, blogger Pauline Njoroge among others.

- Withdrawing security of opposition leaders

- Protesters were shot dead, others beaten and injured with the president praising the police

3. Stop borrowing

Records show that Ruto has borrowed more loans than his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta

4. Enrol all Kenyans to NHIF by December 2022- Yet to happen

5. Lower cost of living e.g. reducing the cost of fuel, electricity, unga etc. The prices have gone up, and life is more unbearable.

6. An all-inclusive and gender-balanced government

- The list of Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and top parastatal heads shows they are from two main tribes. E.g. the Ministry of Energy is dominated by people from the Rift Valley region.

- Ruto promised 50/50 Cabinet slots for men and women. This didn't happen.

7. Free diapers for three months to mothers of newborn babies - Not yet

8. End extrajudicial killings

- Recent conduct of the police during the anti-government protests goes against this promise.

What Ruto's economic empowerment means

In a related story, TUKO.co.ke earlier reported that Kenyans will now access cheap and affordable credit without the fear of blacklisting from the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB).

Ruto said his government will reduce the cost of credit for Micro and Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through the hustler's fund.

Speaking after his inauguration, Ruto noted his economic priority is to improve the business environment and support traders.

Ruto emphasised the bottom-up economic model, calling on Kenyans to organise themselves in small groups to access business credit.

He said his administration would work with CRB and come up with new reforms to increase access to credit.

The president insisted that the culture of blacklisting denies Kenyans access to credit thus impacting financial inclusion.