Flying President held down by Gen Z

Once a globe-trotting president, William Ruto is now held back in the country as the youth holds their twice-weekly nationwide protests.

Ruto has so far skipped or rescheduled six trips abroad.

Last week, Dr Ruto missed the sixth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union (AU) in Accra, Ghana, three trips within Africa, two trips to Europe, and one trip to the United States.

Ruto, appointed in February as the AU Champion for Institutional Reform, a post initially held by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, had made 62 visits to 38 countries in his first 20 months in office.

Since the protests began on June 18, which have left at least 50 people dead according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, the President’s travels have, however, been limited to within the country. He has toured Nyandarwa, Kajiado, and Bomet.

This limited travel, according to high-placed sources, is meant to address the protests in which Generation Z (Gen Z) are demanding reforms, accountability, and good leadership, from his administration.

“I have said going forward, I will protect the nation,” Ruto said on Sunday, addressing a roadside gathering after attending a church service at Africa Gospel Church in Chebango, in Bomet County. 

The President was responding to protesters’ threats that they will “occupy” the Central Business District (CBD) and major towns across the country.

“They said we should not pass the Finance Bill, and I dropped it. Then I called them, and they said they didn’t want to come for talks with me. They told me to go to X [spaces], and I went there, but they ran away,” Ruto said.