More than a decade since Kenyans overwhelmingly voted for a new constitution, there’s growing concern that President William Ruto’s administration is steadily dismantling some of its hard-won gains.
Increasingly, Kenya appears to be inching toward a police state, where dissenting voices are met with harassment, intimidation, and surveillance.
Rising Intimidation Against Critics
In recent months, numerous reports have emerged of Kenyans — both online and offline — facing state-sanctioned intimidation for expressing critical views about the government’s policies and conduct. Since the Gen Z-led protests in June last year, there has been a noticeable uptick in police surveillance and even abductions of government critics.
This troubling trend undermines Kenya’s democratic fabric and raises fears that the freedoms enshrined in the 2010 Constitution are under siege.
Power Grab in the Lands Ministry
Perhaps one of the clearest examples of executive overreach surfaced recently when President Ruto reportedly assumed the ceremonial role of stamping title deeds — a function traditionally performed by the Attorney General and the Ministry of Lands.
Given the emotive and politically charged nature of land issues in Kenya, this move has raised alarm bells. Land is not a matter to be handled casually, and any actions perceived to politicize or centralize its management are likely to provoke unrest and erode public trust.
Government Surveillance on Its Own
Further fueling these fears, Nation Media Group reported last week that the government had procured sophisticated spyware currently being used to monitor not just opposition figures and activists, but also cabinet secretaries suspected of sympathizing with critics of the administration.
Such tactics are reminiscent of darker periods in Kenya’s political history, undermining the principles of openness, accountability, and constitutionalism.
The Risk of Reversing Constitutional Gains
Kenya’s 2010 Constitution marked a pivotal moment in the country’s history, introducing checks and balances intended to curb executive excesses and empower independent institutions. However, the current administration appears to be steadily chipping away at these safeguards.
If this trend persists, Kenya risks sliding back into authoritarian practices that many thought had been buried with the fall of the one-party state era.
A Warning from History
It’s worth noting that President Ruto is no stranger to the dynamics of a centralized, authoritarian system, having served under the late President Daniel arap Moi during the one-party era. This history ought to serve as a cautionary tale. Attempts to subvert constitutional order not only threaten national stability but also endanger the presidency itself.
Upholding Kenya’s Democratic Promise
Kenya is a democracy — by design and by the will of its people. The constitution must be respected, and independent institutions must be allowed to carry out their mandates without interference. Any efforts to undermine these bodies or encroach on their duties are a betrayal of the sacrifices made by millions of Kenyans in the quest for a just and democratic society.
President Ruto must heed the lessons of history and commit to safeguarding, rather than subverting, the constitution. Anything less risks plunging the country back into the dark days it fought so hard to escape.
