Outspoken lawyer Donald Kipkorir criticized President William Ruto for neglecting to address the legitimate grievances raised by Kenyans participating in street protests.
In a statement posted on his X account on July 1, 2024, Kipkorir accused the president of focusing excessively on issues such as employment creation, imports, and housing, which he argued primarily benefit the elite.
According to the lawyer, Ruto has overlooked more critical concerns such as corruption, misappropriation of public funds, and tribalism within the country.
“The country is saying they want a tectonic shift in the way politics is conducted. They want corruption, tribalism, public theft, and hubris by leaders to end. Instead, you state regrets that the Finance Bill was rejected,” Kipkorir said.
Donald Kipkorir’s remarks highlight a perceived disconnect between the current administration, particularly President William Ruto, and the demands voiced by protesters.
Ruto has defended his government’s economic policies, attributing them to steering Kenya away from economic collapse. He frequently references initiatives like the affordable housing program and improvements in the tourism sector to address youth unemployment and stimulate business activities.
However, Kipkorir and others criticize Ruto for allegedly overlooking the public’s calls to tackle corruption and mismanagement of public resources. They argue that these issues, including systemic corruption, remain pressing concerns that need urgent attention, despite the administration’s economic achievements.
Ruto lacks em
Donald Kipkorir’s remarks follow President William Ruto’s recent roundtable with the press, where Ruto reiterated the government’s commitment to pursuing and prosecuting what he described as criminal elements among the protesters.
Ruto specifically mentioned investigations into attempts to breach the Parliament’s armoury, as well as attacks on Judiciary and Nairobi County Government offices during the protests.
Regarding accusations of extrajudicial killings during the protests, Ruto maintained his innocence, stating that he does not bear responsibility for any bloodshed. He characterized the aftermath of the protests as indicative of democracy in action, describing it as a manifestation of democratic rights and freedoms.
empathy
Donald Kipkorir continued his criticism of President William Ruto, accusing him of lacking empathy for the Kenyans who lost their lives during the anti-finance bill protests. Kipkorir asserted that Ruto’s focus on the number of buildings burnt and property destroyed, rather than on the lives lost, is misguided and reflects a misplaced set of priorities.
“The Country has been & is waiting for you to lead the Nation to show empathy, remorse, and grief for those killed, the hundreds injured and abducted. Instead, you are talking about buildings burnt. How can you compare lives to buildings? The buildings belong to the Judiciary and Parliament, independent of the executive and they are not complaining.
“And are you saying the police are right in going rogue? You have refused to condemn the killings, shootings, and abductions of Kenyans. All these are extrajudicial actions by the Police.” The statement continues.
“How did the criminals know there was an armoury ta mausoleum in Parliament? I have a job to do. Citizens are free to engage in discourse that they want to but those are the fruits and signs of a democracy,” the president said.
The embattled head of state also promised to cut down on government spending in response to an uproar by Kenyans on government wastefulness, highlighting budget cuts that would affect his office, scrapping of the offices of the first and second lady offices as examples of austerity measures aimed at reducing government expenditure, aimed towards reducing the burden on taxpayers.
