Mutahi Ngunyi Calls Out William Ruto Over His Response To Protests: "You've Been Too Soft"
- Mutahi Ngunyi blasted President William Ruto for being too soft amid growing unrest, warning that power is slipping from his grip
- The analyst urged Ruto to wield his presidential sword, not just the Kenyan Constitution, to crush defiance and restore order
- In his post, Ngunyi said Kenya risks anarchy if the state fails to maintain its control over violence in the face of Gen Z protests
- Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, political analyst Isaac Okoth linked Mutahi Ngunyi’s remarks to classical theories of state power
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi has slammed President William Ruto for what he terms a weak and indecisive response to the growing wave of nationwide protests.
Source: Facebook
The lawyer, never shy to court controversy, warned that the state's authority is slipping through the president's hands.
Why did Ngunyi warn Ruto?
In a strongly worded post on X following the Saba Saba demonstrations, Ngunyi accused Ruto of failing to assert control at a critical moment, especially as Gen Z-led protests continue to shake the country.
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He reminded the head of state that his role is not just to uphold the Kenyan Constitution but to actively defend the stability of the nation, even through force if necessary.
The lawyer urged the head of state to use the ceremonial presidential sword of authority given during his inauguration to crush any dissent to his leadership.
"Dear Ruto: When we swore you in, we gave you two instruments of power. The Constitution to protect and the sword to defend. You cannot protect the Constitution if you cannot defend the weak. You have been too soft. That is why they have gone too far. Use the sword to defend,” Ngunyi posted.
He accompanied the statement with a video montage, capturing cases of violence and looting by goons experienced across the country during protests.
Ngunyi's message, loaded with political symbolism, came in the aftermath of violent clashes across the country during the July 7 Saba Saba protests.
The demonstrations, originally a commemoration of Kenya’s fight for multiparty democracy, turned deadly in parts of the country as police and protesters clashed.
How are states made, according to Ngunyi?
In a follow-up post, the political scientist invoked a classical definition of state power, drawing from political theory to back his point.
Ngunyi explained that a state has control over violence, warning that losing control would throw the country into anarchy.
Source: Youtube
According to the lawyer, Ruto has failed to defend the 'weak', urging him to brandish the sword and restore balance.
"Dear Ruto: Political Science definition of the state,The Man who controls the monopoly of violence controls the state. If you lose the monopoly, you have no state. Use the damn sword that we gave you to protect the state and defend the weak. This is how states are made," he wrote.
Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, political analyst Isaac Okoth, contextualised Mutahi Ngunyi’s remarks by linking them to the classic theory of state power.
He explained that the control of force is fundamental to how modern states assert legitimacy, but cautioned that excessive force risks eroding public trust and backfiring in the long term.
“Ngunyi’s warning to President Ruto reflects a Hobbesian view of the state, that order must be maintained through a monopoly on violence. However, when this power is abused or misdirected against unarmed citizens, the state risks losing moral authority and legitimacy in the eyes of its people,” Okoth noted. “
Is there police brutality in Kenya?
Human rights activists and independent commissions have documented dozens of incidents of police brutality in the country, particularly during demonstrations.
According to Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), at least 31 people were shot and killed during the Saba Saba protests on July 7.
The commission also documented over 400 injuries from the chaotic protests.
On June 25, at least 19 protesters were shot dead and over 400 were injured while marking the first Gen Z protest anniversary.
Following these rampant cases of police excess in dealing with peaceful protesters, human rights activists, and opposition leaders have threatened to sue Ruto and top police officers at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
What is Ruto's appeal to protesters?
Earlier, during the World MSME Day event at KICC, Ruto directly challenged those shouting "Ruto Must Go" to explain how they envision his exit.
He emphasised that under Kenya’s constitution, removal from office requires a clear, lawful plan, not vague calls for resignation, accusing critics of incitement without viable alternatives.
Ruto warned that anarchy and chaotic protests wouldn’t fix Kenya’s problems and challenged critics to present coherent strategies for change.
Masolo Mabonga, HOD Current Affairs and Politics, updated this article with details on cases of police brutality in Kenya.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
