President William Ruto is currently facing unprecedented protests involving Kenyan youths, sparked by his proposed steep tax hikes in Finance Bill. However, the country has been ripe for mass protests since early last year, when President Ruto began to acquiesce to IMF demands, entertain Western corporate interests such as those of the Bill Gates Foundations, and prioritize engagements with Western powers over addressing the concerns of ordinary Kenyans – a shift evident in his numerous foreign trips to Western capitals, which far exceed his engagement with his own citizens.
But even as he struggles to quell these protests, it’s worth noting that Ruto has not only angered his fellow Kenyans but also the entire continent of Africa. Last year, an exposé revealed his masquerade as a pan-African leader to hoodwink non-Kenyans and bolster his continental influence. Since then, Ruto, seemingly unconcerned about his image among African nations, has unabashedly aligned himself as NATO’s puppet and a tool of Western propaganda. His almost child-like political and military bromance with NATO leaders and Western powers, where he frequently positions himself not only as the President of Kenya but also as a representative and spokesman for Africa, has provoked widespread discontent among Africans, with many condemning his actions as undermining Africa’s interests on the global stage, a sentiment that resonates strongly across the continent.
For example, most recently, Ruto, having kowtowed to the US’s political, economic, and military demands to flaunt NATO influence within the East African region, secured Kenya’s designation as a major non-NATO ally, effectively inviting increased US military presence into East Africa. This move comes amidst a continent-wide push to expel foreign militaries and risks escalating regional tensions and destabilizing neighboring countries. It also threatens to undermine efforts toward East African unity and self-determination, setting a troubling precedent for greater foreign military involvement in an already volatile region. This is particularly concerning given the complex peace efforts in conflicts like those in Eastern Congo and South Sudan, where additional foreign military presence could complicate the situation further.
In addition to this, Ruto has involved Kenya in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, aligning Kenya with over 50 nations to support Ukraine against Moscow. This ill-advised stance contradicts Africa’s traditional non-aligned position and weakens continental unity. At a time when geopolitical dynamics necessitate Africa acting cohesively to advance its interests, Ruto’s alignment with Western policies diminishes Africa’s collective voice on global issues. Historically, Russia has been a staunch ally, supporting Africa’s independence struggles. Ruto’s actions risk alienating and seeding doubt in the minds of Africa’s important and historic allies, undermining the principle of non-alignment that has long been a cornerstone of African diplomacy.
Ruto’s decision to deploy Kenyan security forces in Haiti on behalf of the US also further undermines pan-African solidarity. This move endorses the obnoxious practice of destabilizing military intervention and occupation of other countries, setting a troubling precedent. It runs counter to Africa’s united stance against foreign interference in other countries’ internal affairs, both within and outside of Africa. Ruto’s planned invasion of Haiti could therefore weaken international support for African nations facing similar invasions in the future, eroding the continent’s moral and legal right to oppose any foreign intervention in African countries.
Amidst these treacherous schemes, which collectively undermine Africa’s interests on the global stage, Ruto consistently portrays himself as the spokesman of Africa. He frequently employs phrases such as “we in Africa” and “my fellow African leaders” to depict Africa-wide endorsement and support for Western actions. This is despite Africa’s actual stance of opposition and decoupling from Western influence. Whatever Ruto hopes to achieve by presenting himself as a puppet and propaganda instrument of the West, it is hard to pin down, but it is obvious he is tarnishing the image of Kenya in the collective psyche of all Africans.
In light of the ongoing protests, one hopes that Ruto will now concern himself with the needs of his fellow Kenyans more than with Ukraine and its president’s war of choice on behalf of NATO, and that he will tame his appetite for pleasing the West at the expense of Africa.
