President William Ruto on Wednesday made strong remarks against those calling for his removal from office, calling them members of what he described as the “wash wash” gang. This term, commonly used to refer to fraudsters and con artists, was Ruto’s way of dismissing his critics as people with no real plans for Kenya.
Speaking at the Talanta Bell-Ringing event held at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Ruto accused those pushing for change of being good at shouting slogans but offering no real solutions. He asked them what their plan is if he were to leave office.
According to the President, anyone can chant “Ruto must go,” but the important question remains what comes next?
He said that criticism is allowed in a democracy, but it should come with alternatives. If someone disagrees with his leadership or policies, Ruto said, they should be honest and show the public what they would do differently.
He described the opposition’s message as empty talk and compared it to conmanship, saying that shouting slogans without real plans is like trickery used by fraudsters to cheat people.
He added that if someone truly has a better plan for jobs, health, education, or the economy, they should be brave enough to present it openly instead of hiding behind complaints.
Ruto also appeared to respond indirectly to former Chief Justice David Maraga, who recently called Kenya a failed state while announcing that he would run for president in 2027.
Without mentioning Maraga by name, Ruto questioned how someone who worked for the state for 40 years could now turn around and say the country is a failure. He asked how someone who claims not to believe in the country can say they are ready to lead it.He urged Kenyans to take a moment to think about what is happening and not to be easily swayed by loud voices.
Ruto admitted that some may call him wrong or even mad, but he insisted that maybe those critics are the ones who are wrong. He asked Kenyans to reflect before making judgments, saying that his time will come just like it did for leaders before him.
His statements come at a time when political heat is rising. The high cost of living, tough tax reforms, and government failures in addressing key issues have pushed many Kenyans, especially the youth, to take to the streets in protest.
Online campaigns have also grown stronger, with many people calling for his resignation. Cases of police violence, including reported extrajudicial killings, have only made the situation worse, as public anger continues to rise.
Despite all this, Ruto seems determined to stay on and insists that those asking him to leave must come with better plans, not just slogans.
