State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed has strongly responded to a controversial article by The Economist, a UK-based publication, that accused President William Ruto of leading Kenya in the wrong direction.
The article, titled “William Ruto is taking Kenya to a dangerous place,” harshly criticised Ruto’s leadership, alleging he had abandoned his campaign promises and instead resorted to oppressive tactics to silence public dissent.
The editorial, published on July 3, pointed to the deadly protests of June 25, where lives were lost and several multinational companies briefly suspended operations in Kenya. It also flagged rising corruption and what it described as Ruto’s authoritarian approach as warning signs of a presidency in trouble.
According to the publication, Ruto should not run for a second term in the 2027 General Election, arguing that another term could push the country further into instability. The Economist also painted Ruto’s leadership as “tainted,” and his record as offering little hope for future reforms.
In a bold rebuttal, Hussein Mohamed questioned the publication’s authority to dictate Kenya’s political future. Posting his remarks directly in response to the article, Mohamed asked, “Who gives
The Economist the right to decide who should or shouldn’t run in Kenya’s elections? That choice belongs to Kenyan voters—not a foreign editorial board.”
Mohamed went on to defend President Ruto’s administration, saying that the head of state was not driving Kenya into chaos, but instead making bold and necessary decisions to restructure and secure the nation’s long-term prosperity.
He pointed to economic indicators that suggest Kenya is on the right track, such as consistent economic growth, a strengthening local currency, lower inflation, and a reduced Central Bank Rate—all key measures of a recovering economy.
“Since President Ruto took office in August 2022, Kenya has averaged an annual GDP growth rate of five percent—higher than the global average of 3.3 percent and the regional average of 3.8 percent,” Mohamed noted.
“Inflation, which was as high as 9.6 percent in October 2022, had dropped to just 3.8 percent by May 2025, falling below the Central Bank of Kenya’s target of five percent. This has brought much-needed relief to millions of Kenyan households.”
Mohamed also dismissed the idea that Kenya was losing favor with international investors, highlighting new announcements by major global firms like BUPA Global, Lloyd’s, Africa Speciality Risk, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development—all of which plan to establish regional offices in Nairobi, reinforcing Kenya’s place as a business hub in Africa.
Addressing the June 25 protests, Mohamed acknowledged that while peaceful demonstrations are protected under Kenya’s Constitution, some protests had unfortunately turned violent. He stressed the importance of finding the right balance between allowing freedom of expression and maintaining law and order.
“The right to protest is fundamental in a democracy,” he said, “but it must not interfere with the rights of others or lead to the destruction of property and attacks on police stations. Every democracy struggles with this balance.”
President Ruto, for his part, has confirmed he intends to run for re-election in 2027. He stated that his track record speaks for itself, and that he believes he has delivered enough on his promises to justify another term in office.
He also challenged his political rivals, including his estranged Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, claiming they lack a meaningful track record to convince Kenyans to vote for them.
In conclusion, the government’s message was clear—Kenya’s democratic process should be left to the people, not foreign publications, and the reforms under Ruto’s leadership are aimed at building a stronger, more resilient nation.
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