In a scathing critique of President William Ruto’s administration, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) accused the government of disregarding its constitutional obligations and deceiving citizens in the recent State of the Nation address.
The non-governmental organization said that Ruto’s speech “blatantly disregarded constitutional obligations” and “fell woefully short of Kenya’s expectations.” The address was delivered two months late, breaching Article 132 of the constitution requiring the president to report annually on progress toward achieving national values.
“Given all the serious problems mentioned, it’s clear that the speech didn’t tackle the main issues affecting Kenyans,” the KHRC said in a statement. “The current state of the nation is undeniably gloomy and desperate.”
The group highlighted “grave” challenges it said were ignored in Ruto’s address, including high public spending, corruption scandals, police brutality, discrimination in government appointments, and the spiraling cost of living.
“This regime has set up a weak foundation for governing that won’t hold up against the political, social, and economic hits that are sure to come,” the statement said. “It’s not steering the country towards the transformation we need.”
On financial management, the KHRC said government agencies violated spending rules in the first half of the 2022-2023 fiscal year. It cited “more than five major corruption scandals and unethical behaviors” under Ruto, including the alleged misuse of KES 3.7 billion in public health funds.
However, Ruto “talked boastfully about cutting down on wasteful spending, but it’s just words!” the group said.
The KHRC also accused the government of abuses in policing, including the “killer police squad” implicated in protester deaths returning under Ruto.
The organization said the president’s rhetoric threatens judicial independence, as the government has dropped high-profile cases against Ruto allies who were appointed to the cabinet.
On human rights and inclusion, the KHRC noted that half of Ruto’s executive appointments were from his own ethnic groups. It said this raises risks of “perpetuating ethnic discontent.”
Public participation in governance “is critical” under the constitution, the group said. But it accused the regime of ignoring citizens’ views, citing the rejection of public feedback against new taxes.
While Ruto cited progress in making agriculture cheaper, the KHRC said farmers struggle to access subsidized fertilizer. It also noted that “since Ruto took charge, living costs have shot up.”
The group said public debt has surged by KES 1.5 trillion under Ruto, contradicting his pledges against excessive borrowing. It called for an audit of loans.
Other areas of concern included unpreparedness in education, predatory lending under the Hustler Fund, and the denial of higher education loans to teenage students.
“Considering all this, we demand that the Kenya Kwanza regime stick to the constitution. It’s the backbone of good governance and the roadmap for Kenya’s success,” the statement concluded.
