Why Gen Z alone won’t remove Ruto from power – Wamalwa

Former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa has said Kenyan Gen Zs will not be able to remove President William Ruto from power through protests alone.

Speaking on Monday during an interview on TV47, Wamalwa suggested that young people would need to work alongside experienced political leaders to achieve any meaningful political change.

He drew parallels between the recent Gen Z-led demonstrations and the efforts of Kenya’s Young Turks in the 1990s, who, he noted, were only successful in pushing for change after joining forces with seasoned politicians.

“To get President Ruto out, one must recall that he was once Daniel Arap Moi’s student; it’s similar to removing Moi,” Wamalwa stated.

“When the Young Turks tried to oust Moi on their own, they could not. It was only after they adopted an all-hands-on-deck approach, bringing in leaders like Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia, and Mwai Kibaki, that they achieved their goal.”

"Wanasema kidole kimoja hakivunji chawa. So it’s the Young Turks who came together with the old guards, seasoned politicians, all hands on deck, that made it possible. It will not be a Gen Z protest alone, though they came close. It will take a Gen Zote approach, an all-hands-on-deck effort, to bring about political change.”

Wamalwa, who leads the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), urged young people to recognise that transforming the country will require collaboration with other citizens, including those with governance experience.

“There is something I must tell the Gen Zs who are saying they don’t want any old people who have been in government, that experience counts for nothing,” he said.

“James Madison said if we were a nation of angels, we would not need government. Do not expect angels to fall from heaven and transform our country. It will be ordinary Kenyans, born and raised here, whose records and competence will make the difference.”

The former CS further emphasised the importance of integrity and empathy in leadership, noting that Kenyans are more focused on who should not return to office than on who should be the next president.

“What matters most is not who among us will be the next president but who must not be president of Kenya again,” Wamalwa said.

“This is not about overthrowing a government. It is about ensuring that after one term, Kenyans elect leaders who embody integrity and empathy, leaders who respect the sanctity of life and property.”

He added that Kenyans will be looking for someone who can unite the country and address issues that have deeply affected citizens, including rising fuel prices.

“Integrity will be on the ballot. Kenyans will want a president who can lead with a clean record, transform this country, and review policies that have failed,” he said.