Aasai

Veteran politician and NARC-Kenya party leader Martha Karua has launched a fierce critique against President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of betraying democratic values by using lethal force to suppress dissent instead of responding to the will of the people. Karuas remarks come amid a wave of nationwide protests largely led by Kenya’s youth, popularly known as the Gen Z movement, calling for political and economic reforms under the banner “Ruto Must Go.”

Appearing on Citizen TV’s The Explainer Show on Tuesday night, Karua condemned the governments violent crackdown on demonstrators, insisting that no truly democratic administration should respond to public outrage with bullets and intimidation. She said the widespread anti-government demonstrations in at least 37 counties were a clear expression of collective public disapproval that should not be met with force.

“In established democracies, when the people rise and say enough is enough, the government listens — it doesn’t kill. It steps down,” Karua stated passionately. “The Ruto regime’s response to public anger has been nothing short of state-sponsored violence. This shows a lack of respect not just for life but for the Constitution and the will of the people.”

Karua noted that the scale of the protests — spanning nearly the entire country — signals a total rejection of Ruto’s leadership. She stressed that legitimacy in leadership comes from the people, and when that legitimacy is withdrawn, the moral thing for any leader is to step aside.

“It doesnt matter whether a leader was elected by a landslide or a slim margin. Once the people no longer trust you, your time is up,” she said. “The President should not cling to power through bloodshed. His regime must acknowledge that the citizens, by coming out in large numbers, have spoken clearly.”

She urged President Ruto to listen to the people and resign with dignity, drawing comparisons with leaders in other democracies who stepped aside when their leadership was no longer accepted. In particular, Karua referenced the resignation of former South African President Thabo Mbeki after his party recalled him — a move she praised as an act of political maturity and democratic integrity.

“Mbeki left not because he had failed, but because his time was up. That’s leadership,” she said. “Even I, as a Cabinet Minister, stepped down when I could no longer align with the direction of the Grand Coalition Government. I gave up my salary and privilege because principles matter.”

Karua further said that true leadership is not about individual ego or self-preservation but about putting the country and its citizens first. She warned that any attempt by the state to silence dissent through brutality would only fuel more resistance and erode the little public trust remaining.

“I have not fired Ruto — the people have,” Karua declared. “The mass protests are the citizens’ verdict. The government must respect that. The longer Ruto stays and resists, the more he damages not only his legacy but the democratic foundation of this nation.”

Her comments reflect a growing consensus among political observers and civil society that Kenya is undergoing a political awakening, largely driven by the younger generation that is demanding accountability, justice, and economic inclusion. The Gen Z-led protests have captured national attention, with slogans like #RutoMustGo, #OccupyParliament, and #RejectFinanceBill trending across platforms.

As the protests continue, public pressure is mounting on the Kenya Kwanza administration to not only stop the use of force against demonstrators but also to acknowledge the growing call for leadership change. Karua’s voice joins others urging the government to act with responsibility and respond to public grievances through dialogue and respect for democratic norms.

Whether President Ruto will heed these calls remains to be seen — but what is clear, as Karua emphasized, is that Kenya’s political landscape is changing, and the people are no longer willing to be spectators in their own democracy.