Will President Ruto Deliver on his Broad-Based Government?

By Kelvin Nguli

Kenya is a nation at a political cross road. To ease tensions and reduce the need to prioritize party politics, President William Ruto established a broad-based government with an aim of accommodating more people and concentrating on services rather than on party politics. However, the question that Kenyans are posing after years is; will this bigger government really work or is this a political arrangement dubbed unity?

Ruto is correct when he suggests that the government should be broad based. In a country which is commonly divided by ethnicity and politics, the presence of leaders of various groups might put people together and propel the country. It may also make Parliament more stable and this would allow it to pass changes in economics and social changes. Government-meets-opposition mix, however, may lead to a lack of accountability and the difficulty in restraining power.

The economy is the biggest challenge facing the government of Ruto. Kenyans have a high cost of living, taxes, and employment. The concept of bottom-up economy benefiting small enterprises and common people remains distant. Introducing new jobs, appointments, and alliances in the government may sound good, and it would also promote a massive bureaucracy that spends the money of the people without any clear outcomes.

Meanwhile, common Kenyans continue to live with increased food costs, late salaries in certain counties, and heavy taxes. The government should concentrate on revenue gathering, which is required to be but does not appear to be close to the actual problems of people. There is increased frustration in the society as people expect that leaders be busy in politics rather than work on solving daily challenges.

In government, the Ruto team has achieved success on digital work and sustaining infrastructure. Farming and affordable homes are promising projects. However, this is not a smooth sail and corruption, red tape, and political interference continue to cripple it. A transparent and efficient government must give its results, but not its words.

As an observer, we have a question to ask: Is Kenya on the right track? The answer is uncertain. The thought is vigorous, the movement sluggish and disjointed. To achieve success, the broad-based government must stop the political inclusion and begin the helpful inclusion. The president needs to demonstrate that his government is an interest of all Kenyans and not his partners.

Ultimately, Kenya can only have a brighter future, through leaders who consider honesty, economic power, and fairness over the easy politics. The generalized government is workable, but only when it makes people its main priority, acts and holds leaders responsible. Kenyans will continue observing until the time that promises become their reality.