Which handshake? KANU's youth wing distances itself from Ruto-Moi pact

KANU Youth Congress officials Chibeka Matara, Meshack Kiprotich and Kimani Mbugua during a press briefing on October 14, 2025. [Wilbrforce Okwiri, Standard] The Kenya African National Union (Kanu) youth wing has disassociated itself from the newly found bromance between the party and the government. This comes days after the party chairman, Gideon Moi and President William Ruto agreed to work together under the broad-based arrangement. "This is not about individuals, personalities, parochialism or regions. This is about Kenya," Ruto said during his visit to Moi's Kabarak home in Nakuru, last weekend. Ruto stepped foot in Kabarak barely two days after Gideon withdrew from the Baringo senatorial race, citing focus on "national interest and unity of the country." But the Kanu Youth Congress on Tuesday dismissed the agreement, expressing disappointment with the decision that they say was hatched by 'a few individuals' without consulting them. "We believe that this decision was made with the topmost officials of the party, and the youth officials and the youth at large were not consulted or rather were sidelined when this decision was being made," said Lucy Mwangu, KANU Youth Congress Vice Secretary. While terming the move as not viable, Ms Mwangu said the party leadership did not go through the appropriate party organs to ratify the decision. According to the group, the party principles do not support the atrocities that they claim have been perpetuated by the Ruto regime, including abductions and extra-judicial killings. "It is worth noting that our values and ideologies do not intertwine with the consistent abductions and subsequent killings, enforced disappearances, human rights violations, corruption, and total disregard of the rule of law," said the Congress's chairman, Chibeka Matara. Mr Matara said the party emphasises the promotion of the rule of law, democracy and independence of institutions. A section of KANU Youth Congress members during a press briefing on October 14, 2025. [Wilbrforce Okwiri, Standard] "No agreement can validate the undoing of this government to the citizenry, the government should work to serve the interests of the people, and no partnership or coalition agreement whatsoever can save a regime that goes against the constitutional lines of governance and protection of the rule of law," said Ms Matara. She said the government should instead work to solve the crisis in the health sector, upgrade the education system by making it affordable and available to all, while upholding the rule of law and bringing to an end the archaic trend of abductions and enforced disappearances of government critics. The wing vowed not to stand down on their stance against the relationship between their party and the ruling Kenya Kwanza administration. "As a youth caucus of the current youth congress, we are going to stand firm with our belief that we are the voices of change," said the party's youth affairs secretary, Meshack Kiprotich. They urged their fellow youths and the Gen Zs to seize the ongoing voter registration exercise to register themselves in readiness for the 2027 general elections. "We want everyone to register as voters. Because that is what is important for now. That is our focus. Right now, we want to ensure every Kenyan has a vote," said Titus Otieno, Kanu chair, Nairobi branch.

Which handshake? KANU's youth wing distances itself from Ruto-Moi pact

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Which handshake? KANU's youth wing distances itself from Ruto-Moi pact

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