Popular Kenyan storyteller and content creator Abel Mutua, popularly known as Mkurugenzi, has weighed in on the persistent “Ruto Must Go” chants, arguing that they alone will not transform the country.
In recent remarks that have circulated widely, Mutua pointed out a deeper problem in Kenyan politics: many of those leading or amplifying the slogan have themselves been in the political arena since the 1980s.
“Hata wale wanasema ‘Ruto Must Go’ walianza siasa 1980, tuwafagie wote!” he said, essentially calling for a clean sweep of recycled leaders rather than focusing solely on one individual.
Mutua’s message is clear. Endless slogans may express frustration over the cost of living, governance issues, or unfulfilled promises, but they do not automatically produce better leadership or practical solutions.
Kenya has a long history of cycling the same political figures through different parties and coalitions. Simply replacing one long-serving politician with another from the same generation rarely delivers the fresh ideas and accountability the public demands.
He urged citizens, especially the youth driving much of the current discourse, to look beyond emotional chants. Meaningful change requires scrutinising track records, demanding concrete plans, and rejecting the recycling of the same faces who have dominated politics for decades. Without that shift in mindset, the cycle of disappointment is likely to continue regardless of who occupies State House.
Mutua’s intervention adds a nuanced voice to the heated national conversation, reminding Kenyans that lasting progress depends less on who must go and more on who comes in and whether they truly represent a break from the past.