President William Ruto’s administration is increasingly displaying signs of an emerging dictatorship, critics warned today.
Reports are surfacing of alleged state-backed abductions and murders, fuelling concerns over shrinking democratic space in the country.
Analysts pointed to the recent swift impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua by a pliant Parliament as proof the legislature is no longer an independent branch acting as a check on executive power.
According to the experts MPs impeaching Mr Gachagua apparently illustrates their lopsided relationship with the presidency.
The president’s inner circle seems to be transforming into a squad of fawning cheerleaders rather than providing sober policy advice, observers added.
Advisers who were once respected independent thinkers now sound indistinguishable from online propaganda bloggers.
All these trends point to an expanding personality cult around Mr Ruto, evoking memories of the dictatorial days of former President Daniel arap Moi.
Experts said if left unchecked, this could have serious implications for democratic governance and policymaking.
Political scientists warn that amassing excessive power while only valuing loyalty over competence leads to the so-called “dictator’s information problem”.
This sees underlings start fudging data and telling the leader what he wants to hear rather than the facts needed for sound policy decisions.
Open debate serves an important oversight function, experts emphasised. If Parliament had honestly deliberated the Finance Bill 2024 instead of rubber-stamping it, policy mistakes provoking recent protests could have been avoided.
Analysts advised Mr Ruto to reflect carefully on the wages of unchecked power, which is ignorance of reality.
The president has the opportunity to reverse the emerging negative trends by respecting media freedom and nurturing a culture of vibrant democratic debate.
By Standard