United Democratic Alliance (UDA) national youth leader Kariuki Ngunjiri and President William Ruto at a past event/HANDOUTUnited Democratic Alliance (UDA) national youth leader Kariuki Ngunjiri has called on Kenyans to support President William Ruto’s policy decisions—even when they appear unfavorable in the short term.
Ngunjiri said these hard choices are critical for Kenya’s long-term prosperity.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Star, Ngunjiri praised Ruto for making bold, sometimes unpopular choices, arguing that such decisions set him apart from the populist leadership styles often seen in African politics.
“Previously it was easy to avoid criticism as a head of
state. It was easy to approach public policy, sometimes casually. But in the
current age, with a populace highly educated and informed, you require a solid
leader as president,” said Ngunjiri.
He said Kenya’s growing economy demands leadership that is firm, consistent, and deeply knowledgeable, adding that Ruto fits that profile.
“The current state of affairs projects Kenya’s economic growth to spiral up stably, but it takes key interventions taken by the President to sustain such,” he noted.
Ngunjiri urged citizens to put aside ethnic or political affiliations and adopt a nationalist mindset, stressing that Kenya's progress requires unity of purpose.
“It doesn’t matter where one comes from; we need to adopt a nationalist approach to every subject,” he said.
He also commended Ruto for his efforts to foster national cohesion through the formation of a broad-based government, particularly after months of political and economic unrest earlier this year.
“Politics seemed polarised, until the President went out of his way to embrace those opposite. And what’s amazing is the easiness with which he is able to co-opt opposition politicians,” Ngunjiri said.
“In fact, we must never see compromise as a sign of weakness, but President Ruto has taught us the design to make a political strength.”
In early 2025, President Ruto’s UDA party entered into a formal coalition agreement with Raila Odinga’s ODM—a political realignment that followed widespread protests over new tax proposals and rising public debt.
The move, though unexpected, helped stabilise the political climate and was widely seen as a strategic step toward national unity and economic recovery.
Ngunjiri believes the coalition is a demonstration of Ruto’s ability to rise above partisanship in pursuit of national interest.
“Very few political leaders in Africa will make hard decisions and defend such positions. Many play populist politics to avoid negative criticism, but President Ruto has chosen the harder, more meaningful path,” he said.
