Introduction
Mr. William Rote, the incumbent president of Kenya, ascended to his position through a political campaign centered on the concept of a "hustler" and the advocacy of pan-Africanism. In addition, Mr. Rote's use of the term "hustler" to refer to a shared heritage and inheritance among all Kenyans, rather than a colonial privilege that has been passed through only to a privileged few.
Mr. Ruto denounced the opposition for the longstanding control of their families on Kenyan politics and economy since the country gained independence in 1963, describing them as "dynasties" .
In addition, Mr. Ruto labelled them as the children of the country's first and deputy presidents, specifically Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga, who significantly enriched Kenya’s political power. In contrast, Mr. Rote characterized himself as an individual hailing from poor families and attending school without barefoot.
During his electoral campaign, Mr. Rote pledged to support impoverished families and youth, establish good governance, foster the country's economy to benefit the impoverished, particularly the youth, place the poor at the center of economic policy, address the high unemployment experienced by young people, and address ethical politics, promoting for the principles of constitutionalism and the rule of law. The Rail Odinga, on the other hand, has accused William Rote of populism and creating class and ethnic division in order to win the election.
Kenya held its presidential and parliamentary elections on August 20, 2022. Mr. William Rote's political party, the United Democratic Alliance, secured 50.49 percent of the votes, whereas Raila Odinga’s party, the Orange Democratic Movement, obtained 48.85 percent. President William Rote made history in Kenya for become the first president to win an election without supporting the incumbent president.
Following his victory, President William Rote of Kenya strongly advocated for pan-Africanism and called for comprehensive reforms within global financial institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), emphasizing the importance of equal treatment for all countries. Furthermore, he advocated for the inclusion of African countries in the United Nations Security Council. In his speech at the Paris climate summit, the president criticized Bretton Woods and described institutions primarily controlled by affluent western nations.
President William Ruto of Kenya has paid official visits to over twelve (12) African nations, including South Africa, Djibouti, and Mozambique, with the aim of revitalizing pan-Africanism and fostering solidarity among African countries in terms of trade and economic ties. In addition, he expressed dissatisfaction with the summit, which included the leaders of all African Union countries along with specific nations such as the United States of America, Japan, and China.
The Meaning of Pan-Africanism
Mr. Henry Sylvester Williams initiated the Pan-Africanism Movement at a conference in London in 1990 with the goal of fighting against colonialism, white supremacy, injustice, and inequality because, at the time, western colonialists were colonizing the entire African continent. Additionally, the movement aims to foster unity among Africans.
Typically, some African leaders use the pan-Africanism ideology in their campaigns to win over young voters, as the continent's youth have grown weary of western countries exploiting their resources. African scholars and intellectuals believe that western neocolonialists and imperialism are responsible for the civil wars, coups, underdevelopment, bad governance, and assassinations that occur on the continent. The western neocolonialists are installing puppet leaders in African countries in order to illegally extract African resources such as minerals, gold, and uranium, as France is currently doing in West African countries. Nevertheless, in recent times, young African leaders like Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali have strongly opposed this predatory imperialism and capitalism.
Former Pan Africanist William Ruto is now Pro-Western
The objective of Mr. Ruto's election was to advance a socioeconomic policy that prioritizes the needs of the poor. During his electoral campaign, he focused on creating employment opportunities for the youth and criticized his rivals, Raila Odinga and former president Uhuru Kenyatta, for their dynastic control over politics and the economy since Kenya gained independence in 1963.
In his appearance on the international scene, Mr. Ruto upholds African continent interests by advocating that world financial institutions treat all nations fairly, offer inclusive international financial management, and help alleviate the debt burden African nations face. Furthermore, some Africans stated that championing African agendas globally enables President William Ruto to be an advocate and spokesperson for the continent.
Most African politicians adopt false identities as Pan-Africanism revolutionaries when campaigning in order to reach out to African youth, intellectuals, and academics who are disillusioned with Western exploitation and hypocrisy.
Despite Kenya's strong alliances with Western nations and significant Western investments in the country, Kenya maintains a neutral stance when Western powers conflict with other global superpowers, such as Russia and China, as well as in the Muslim and Arab worlds. Primarily, Kenyan Muslims' predominant presence and influence shape this neutrality.
The pan-Africanism ideology of President Roto underwent a considerable transformation during his recent visit to the United States. This was the first state visit by an African leader to the United States of America since 2008. The primary objective of his visit to Washington was to establish economic and trade ties with two nations, along with fostering technology and innovation, global peace and security, and promoting democratic values.
On the other side, Kenya has also embraced the United Nations Security Resolution, an international initiative that the United States spearheaded. The purpose is to mobilize multinational police to fight the criminal gangs in Haiti.
Recently, the United States has aimed to expand its position in Africa, with Kenya serving as the key gateway. This is driven by the decline of American influence and the growing presence of strategic rivals such as Russia and China in terms of trade, investment, and military activities across the continent. These shifts are particularly evident in West African nations and the Horn of Africa, including Eritrea.
Recently, Mr. Ruto publicly criticized the Russian war on Ukraine and called on China to exert diplomatic pressure on Russia to end the war. He argued that the Russian invasion of Ukraine poses a global risk because it causes grain and fertilizer shortages and disrupts the global supply chain.
The Kenyan president, on the other hand, has taken a neutral stance on the Israel-Zionist genocide against Gaza and stated that a two-state solution is the only solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Nevertheless, he dismissed the collective condemnation of African nations towards Israel's committing horrific murders of Palestinian civilians, particularly children and women, in Gaza.
Finally, President Roto’s current commitment to promoting democratic values and global peace and security with partners in America and Western countries, as well as major non-NATO allies, contradicts his prior pan-Africanism ideology.
Kenya’s Controversial Tax Bill
William Rote, the president of Kenya, introduced a tax bill that would impose hefty taxes on Kenyan citizens, and parliament subsequently approved the proposed draft legislation. The approved tax bill in Kenya sparked massive protests, leading to numerous deaths, injuries, and destruction of property due to the use of live ammunition by the police on the peaceful demonstrators.
The tax bill imposes a 16 percent tax on the sale of bread and a 25 percent tax on the sale of cooking oil, mostly affecting Kenyan citizens who are already struggling with the high costs of daily life.
However, the president justified the tax hike as a means to repay debt on the Kenyan government. Nevertheless, the proposed legislation received widespread opposition from the entire Kenyan population.
Economic experts argue that financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) severely harm the Kenyan economy and other African economies by imposing stringent debt conditions, which include austerity measures and substantial taxes. This ultimately leads to a collapse of power purchasing and business in Kenya and other impoverished nations, as the majority of people in low-income countries rely on the government for employment opportunities, and the policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) fail to provide effective support to underdeveloped nations. Although the Kenyan president withdrew the controversial financial bill, resulting in unprecedented protests in Kenyan history,
During his campaign, Mr. Ruto’s populist approach prioritized addressing the needs of the impoverished population and youth. He prioritized their economic well-being by reducing the financial burden that the poor people face, combating corruption and ethnic political identity, and openly criticizing his opponents for entrenching dynasties that had controlled Kenya's economy and politics since its independence.
It is normal for African leaders to change their minds after gaining power over their nation. Mr. Ruto failed to keep his campaign promises, but instead he is putting hardships on the citizens of Kenya.
By Ahmed Mohamoud Mohamed
