NAIROBI, Kenya- The leadership of Kenya’s criminal justice sector is on the brink of major changes as President William Ruto seeks to restore public trust in his administration.
The move follows a series of protests led by the GenZ, calling for significant reforms.
In exclusive interviews with seven senior government officials and close allies of President Ruto, Y News uncovered the president’s strategy to tackle the ‘disturbing tag’ of being a ‘liar’ that has plagued his presidency.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that imminent changes will impact the National Police Service, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
These agencies have been blamed for exposing the president to public outrage due to their actions and inactions.
President Ruto, according to sources, has been misled on multiple occasions, leading to public mockery and increasing skepticism about his leadership.
His latest claim that foreign powers influenced recent protests was met with widespread criticism, particularly from GenZ activists who felt he branded them as ‘criminals.’
The rallying cry from protesters has been loud and clear: “We want action.”
The GenZ movement, rejecting President Ruto’s calls for dialogue, demanded concrete measures.
The president, who secured support for dialogue from former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, found that Kenyans were no longer interested in what they termed as talk shops that yielded no results.
Spotlight on the Inspector General of Police
The National Police Service, led by Inspector General Japheth Koome, is under intense scrutiny for its handling of the GenZ protests.
Using outdated tactics, the police’s response fueled public anger.
The four-week-long protests, which were notably peaceful, saw over 40 young Kenyans, including university students, killed by police, and hundreds more injured.
Protesters, who carried the national flag and bottles of water, were met with live bullets, rubber bullets, water cannons, and teargas.
“He should have done better. These young men and women were peaceful,” a senior government official told Y News.
Close allies of the president echoed these sentiments, calling for the dismissal of the IG of Police and the arrest of the officers responsible for the killings.
“The problem with our police is one; they handled the young people with the same old manual they have used against Raila Odinga. Regrettably, this led to unnecessary loss of lives,” said a close advisor to the president.
Human Rights organizations have also called for police accountability, including the immediate dismissal of IG Koome.
-Criminal Gangs and Political Manipulation-
The protests also saw criminal gangs, allegedly hired by politicians opposed to the protests, causing chaos and property destruction, especially in Nairobi and Mombasa.
At least 39 counties participated in the protests, which led to the withdrawal of a punitive Finance Bill and the dismissal of all Cabinet Secretaries except Musalia Mudavadi.
The climax of the protests occurred on June 25, when thousands of Kenyans overpowered police and gained access to the Parliament building.
On this day, amidst the chaos, MPs passed the controversial IMF-supported Finance Bill, which many believed would exacerbate economic woes.
Intelligence Failures
The Noordin Haji-led National Intelligence Service (NIS) has also come under fire.
While the agency is known for its real-time intelligence gathering, it appears to have been caught off guard by the scale and intensity of the GenZ protests.
“Either they underrated the young people or there is a serious problem with NIS,” one official pointed out.
The president’s insistence on passing the Finance Bill, despite growing public anger, suggests a significant intelligence failure.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua criticized NIS, suggesting that better intelligence could have helped avert the public backlash.
“The NIS boss should take personal responsibility for this,” the Deputy President said.
-The EACC Under Scrutiny-
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is also in hot water for its perceived inaction against corruption and public resource wastage. \
President Ruto’s administration has been plagued by numerous corruption scandals, a problem that extends to the county level.
Showcases of opulence by senior government officials, including some of the recently dismissed Cabinet Secretaries, fueled public anger.
“They did not spare any chance to flaunt their new found wealth,” a State House official remarked.
In response, President Ruto has banned state officials from participating in Harambees (fundraising activities) pending regulatory reforms.
This decision came after reports that some officials were donating sums of money far exceeding their annual salaries within weeks.
“Where is this money coming from? And why has the EACC been silent?” the official asked.
As President Ruto prepares to announce his new, broad-based Cabinet, the pressure is mounting.
Observers say the GenZ protests have highlighted a significant gap between government actions and public expectations.
The youth, particularly the GenZ activists, have made it clear that they will not be placated by half-measures.
“With the nation’s eyes on him, his ability to implement these changes will define his presidency and shape Kenya’s path forward,” another official said.
