Lawyer and Deputy Leader of Safina party, Willis Otieno, commented on President William Ruto’s political strategy, noting it faces a crucial test as he navigates between meeting the demands of Generation Z and securing his political future.
During a panel interview on Daybreak, Otieno expressed skepticism about Ruto’s attempt to gain legitimacy among Generation Z by aligning with Raila Odinga’s Azimio movement.
On July 10, 2024, both Raila and Ruto advocated for a dialogue approach to chart the country’s way forward. However, Generation Z rejected this approach, arguing that critical demands such as justice for victims of police violence should be immediately addressed without dialogue.
Otieno argued that relying on Raila to appeal to the youth would not succeed, emphasizing that the only credible path to restoring public trust is through free and fair elections where the electorate chooses their leaders.
“Kenyans have recalled their sovereignty, What will president Ruto is trying to do is to recreate legitimacy, but unfortunately he cannot speak on their behalf about the Gen Z protests. The first time Raila came out to say we have a dialogue, the people said keep off, this is our protests,” the lawyer said.
“You will not get legitimacy from Raila.. We have to find a way in which the people can donate back the reclaimed sovereignty to an elected group. It will not be through boardroom deals, but has to be through the ballot and Ruto can contest the elections if he so desires.”
For decades, Raila has been revered as a political figure known for salvaging past administrations during their most challenging periods, earning him a reputation as a political enigma. However, the landscape of politics has been dramatically reshaped by Gen Z protests, which have unequivocally declared their lack of leadership.
These protests have diverged from traditional political narratives, driven instead by a strong desire for accountability and effective governance.
