William Ruto’s ‘Foolish and Brainless’ Remarks Spark Fresh Concerns Over Political Temperament
President William Ruto has come under renewed scrutiny after a series of hard-hitting speeches during his tour of the Ukambani region, where he repeatedly branded opposition leaders “foolish” and “brainless”. The remarks, delivered at several campaign-style stops in Makueni and Kitui counties, have triggered sharp criticism and raised questions over the President’s commitment to ending divisive politics.
Ruto’s tour began in Makueni, a region traditionally aligned with the opposition, where he launched into a strongly worded critique of rival political figures. Speaking to residents gathered at one of his earliest stops, the President questioned the intellectual capacity of opposition leaders, accusing them of lacking preparedness and seriousness in governance.
“A person who has no plan, no policy, no agenda, no intelligence— is that someone to be elected?” Ruto asked, as he dismissed what he described as the opposition’s failure to present credible leadership alternatives.
The tone, however, did not soften as the tour progressed. In neighbouring Kitui county, before a large and enthusiastic crowd, the President again delivered a blistering assessment of his rivals, portraying them as directionless and out of touch.
“They have no plan. They have no policies. Not even sense… Wait, do you even know them? Salaale,” he said, prompting mixed reactions from the audience.
The forcefulness of the President’s rhetoric marks a notable shift from earlier appeals he made in May, when he publicly urged political leaders to shun insults, tribalism and what he called “empty politics.” At the time, Ruto encouraged Kenyans to reject leaders “who have nothing to offer except insults, name-calling and ethnicity.”
However, his latest comments appear to undercut that message—something that was immediately pointed out by Makueni Woman Representative Suzanne Kiamba. Addressing the President directly during one of the Ukambani engagements, Kiamba urged him to adopt more measured language and refrain from demeaning fellow leaders.
“As a social safeguard specialist, no human being created in the image of God is worthless,” she said. “Even a person who cannot speak has something valuable inside them. I do not support this habit of saying we in the opposition are completely worthless.”
Her remarks, delivered openly and respectfully, were widely viewed as a courageous public rebuke of the President’s tone, especially given the political dynamics of the region.
Despite the criticism, Ruto continued to double down on his message, insisting that opposition leaders were promoting what he described as “low politics” based on misinformation and manipulation. He dismissed claims by the united opposition that the government was practising favouritism or discrimination in national appointments.
“Those foolish people who talk about shares, who claim Kenya is run through favouritism or discrimination— that is low politics from ignorant people,” he said. “They think Kenyans are very foolish. When they come here, they bring three phrases: Wantam, Kasongo must go. Is that not foolishness?”
The President’s comments have since sparked intense debate among political commentators and Kenyans online, with many questioning whether such rhetoric is appropriate for a head of state. Others argue that Ruto is responding firmly to what he sees as persistent misinformation from his opponents.
Nonetheless, the exchange highlights a growing tension over the tone of Kenya’s political discourse, particularly at a time when the President has repeatedly called for unity, sobriety and constructive engagement.
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William Ruto’s ‘Foolish and Brainless’ Remarks Spark Fresh Concerns Over Political Temperament