President William Ruto continues to face growing public dissent, as anti-government chants escalate nine months after the successful quelling of the Gen Z protests.
The “Ruto Must Go” chants have become increasingly frequent in public spaces, including stadiums, clubs, and social events, drawing the attention of top security officials.
This comes as the President embarks on his first development tour of the Mt Kenya region since the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
At the Kenya vs. Gabon World Cup qualifiers match at Nyayo Stadium, the “Ruto Must Go” chants were heard. This mirrors a similar incident at Gusii Stadium on March 9, where youths heckled Raila Odinga over his support for Ruto.
The chants have also spread to nightclubs and large events featuring foreign artists. On social media, particularly X, it has remained one of the top trending hashtags since the Gen Z protests.
Politicians aligned with the government have expressed concern over the growing hostility, urging for unity and tolerance. This message was echoed during the burial of Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi’s son on Saturday.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja called for leaders to connect with young people through empathy and dialogue. “What you see as bitterness and anger is a cry. The problem is not our young people. The problem is us, the political class… Our young people are not crazy. They are our children, so let us listen to them,” Sakaja said.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo also called for reflection. “We have very angry youth. I don’t know what is going on in this country, but we need serious soul-searching,” Odhiambo stated. She emphasized the need for Kenyans to engage in dialogue, rather than speaking at one another.
However, Jubilee Nominated MP Sabina Chege expressed optimism about the President’s visit, stating that the people are eager to see what the government will bring to the region. In response to concerns about a potentially hostile reception, she told the Star that it would be foolish to expect heckling, as every part of Kenya deserves access to national resources.
“The same way he was received in Western and other regions, the same will happen in Mt Kenya. I’ve been on the ground, and people are clear—they want development, not politics,” Chege said. “The issue is that one person went to the ground with a negative narrative, but that narrative is now stale. What the people of Mt Kenya need is access to water, markets for their coffee and tea. We have two years left, so let’s focus on development, which is why this government was elected,” she added.
Irungu Nyakera also emphasized on Sunday that Mt Kenya voted for development, which “comes through the Office of the President.”