Ruto's crackdown on critics lays bare his authoritarian character

Kakamega Senator Dr. Boni Khalwale led Bushiangala residents in protest  on November 12, 2025 over rumours that locals might be forced to leave their valuable gold mining ancestral land in Idakho , Ikolomani constituency.[Benjamin Sakwa,Standard]

Three years into his tenure, President William Ruto has struggled with shedding off the tag of being intolerant to dissent.

From the suppression of protestors, abductions, to the removal of critics from his ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the unprecedented ouster of his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, the Head of State has been accused of using the cannon to kill a mosquito, but has consistently told off his critics over the same.

The removal of Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale as the Senate Majority Chief Whip on Tuesday has, however, exposed his hand, even as he wades into the murky political power play of wrestling the Western region from the United Opposition’s grip.

Pundits now argue that the President’s growing intolerance to political dissent — which was manifested during the by-elections through the use State machinery to distort polling, bribery and violence against the Opposition — may not only cost him but also expose the regime’s vengeful nature.

“President Ruto has a problem with tolerating criticism which is sometimes restrictive and could cost him politically. His predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta persevered him for years even when he (Ruto) had started a revolt from within. But Ruto has been unable to replicate the same towards his critics,” says political analyst Gitile Naituli.

Party ticket

Khalwale, who was elected to the position on the UDA party ticket in 2022 was installed as the party’s whip soon after, with his role requiring him to enforce obedience to the party ideals at the Senate.

But in recent months, the embattled senator has pushed back against UDA’s ideals, openly criticised decisions by President Ruto and even publicly defied party lines. At one point, the lawmaker even confessed to receiving a phone call from President Ruto, who urged him to tone down his criticism of the government but claims to have told him off.

“I am the one who brought President Ruto to Luhya nation. Ruto was the last dignitary that my wife cooked for before she passed on. But I was shocked after the President warned me saying that I should not criticise the government because I am the Chief Whip, and that I should be quiet because his administration has given me a car. Really? Is that how much he despises someone who represents more than 2.5 million people?” posed Khalwale in July.

Subsequently, the senator has taken a firm political stand against Ruto, accusing him of authoritarianism instead of consultation. What jolted the Khalwale’s de-whipping was, however, his backing of Democratic Action Party Kenya (DAP-K) candidate Seth Panyako in the Malava by-election contest instead of UDA’s David Ndakwa, who won.

UDA had issued Khalwale a 14-day notice on October 14 to explain why he should not face disciplinary action for alleged misconduct. Khalwale would, however, dismiss the warning, saying that he supported Panyako as a protest against what he described as flawed nomination processes that sidelined his preferred candidate, Ryan Injendi.

And on Tuesday, the political axe finally fell on Khalwale, who now joins other former UDA outcasts relegated to the political cold — such as former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala,  Gachagua and scores of MPs who were spit out — for criticising the party.

During last Tuesday’s sitting, the removal of the Senator was aptly communicated by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi who simultaneously announced that the same position had been handed over to Bungoma Senator David Wafula Wakoli.

The Opposition has already welcomed Khalwale to its fold, signalling a heated battle for the Western region between Ruto and Opposition ahead of 2027. 

“We have now tasked Senator John Methu to go and implore Khalwale to join our DCP party. We now welcome the bullfighter,” said Malala during the DCP by-election victory celebration on Wednesday. 

Khalwale’s removal was reminiscent of the impeachment of Gachagua, which had Ruto’s hand written all over it. It followed a bitter political divorce that would later trigger major political realignment. 

Gachagua’s humiliating removal from office was finalised at the Senate, where Senators almost unanimously voted to oust Gachagua after the ouster motion got the stamp of approval at the National Assembly. He had been accused of insubordination, gross misconduct and a violation of the Constitution.

According to Ruto, Gachagua’s impeachment was a result of his confrontational approach with everyon,e including MPs.

“The MPs were told that unless they bowed down, they would be sent home. In response, they decided to act first. I did not sign anywhere or him to be removed. The law was followed, and those who removed him did so within the legal framework,” said Ruto.

In a tell-all interview, during the commencement of his tour of the Mt Kenya region in April, Ruto also claimed that Gachagua also demanded for Sh10 billion in order to rally support for him in the region, where at the time his popularity was fast waning.

“I was told, ‘I can make you a one-term President unless you give me Sh10 billion to organise politics in the region.’ I refused. If my fate is to be a one-term president, so be it,” added the President.

But in a rejoinder, Gachagua accused the Head of State of lying to the people “without hesitation”

“I am now convinced than ever before that pathological lying is a mental disorder. The greatest existential threat to our beloved country is outright lying to the people of Kenya without blinking, and failure by a leader to put his team together to harmonise their lies. I weep for my country, Kenya” he said.

What followed was a purge of Gachagua’s allies in Parliament. Ruto, emboldened by his dumping of Gachagua and new found political partnership with the Orange Democratic (ODM) Party, engineered a Cabinet reshuffle in Parliament that saw ODM sweep the chairmanship of “lucrative” committees while allies of Gachagua were relegated to nondescript committees such as Members Welfare and the Broadcasting and Library Services committees.

Embakasi North MP James Gakuya who previously chaired the Trade, Investment and Cooperatives Committee was removed and placed in the Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library services. Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamucomba who held the reins at the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee was placed in the Member Services Committee.

Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto also fell victim to the purge after he was removed from the Public Investments Committee on Social Services and the Communication, Information and Technology committees and placed in the Regional Development Committee.

Azimio brigade

Interestingly, Mumias East MP Peter Salasya who despite being from the Azimio brigade had evolved into a critic of Ruto was removed from the Agriculture Committee to the Members Services team.

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro also faced the political guillotine for allegedly being a “fence sitter” during the impeachment of Gachagua. He had been serving as the Budget committee chairperson for the last two years.

But prior to the parliamentary purge, it was Cleophas Malala who was feeling the political heat after being ousted as the UDA secretary General in December 2023, barely a year after his appointment.

The Ruto led outfit was intent on ridding the party of any Gachagua influence as Malala had aligned himself with the then DP, despite his explicit political turbulence within the Kenya Kwanza government.

“Ruto’s style of leadership is very dangerous to a democracy because of its intolerant nature. He needs to soften his approach to power, give room for critics and implement his agenda through dialogue. He must also learn to tolerate and persuade others if he is to survive politically,” observes Naituli.

He added: If you push Khalwale out and he joins the Opposition which includes Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Cleophas Malala and those against Ruto in Kakamega and within ODM such as MP Caleb Amisi, then the President loses the western bloc ahead of 2027.”