How could William Ruto stay in power?

How could William Ruto stay in power? One thing is certain: he wants to stay in power. It was not for nothing that William Ruto announced at his inauguration as President of Kenya on September 13, 2022, that he was the "leader." The ceremony took place at the Moi International Stadium Kasarani in Nairobi. This event marked his official assumption of the presidency following his election victory on August 9, 2022. A report made by a Kenyan politician is currently being discussed in Kenya. It concerns whether President William Ruto is planning a constitutional coup. This is currently a hotly debated topic. There have been several reports from various politicians. Cleophas Malala, a former senator, called for the government to be dissolved and new elections held before 2027. He said the current government no longer reflects the will of the people. Diana Gichengo, coordinator of the Institute for Social Accountability (TISA), accused Ruto of violating the constitution and called for impeachment. President Ruto himself responded to the "Ruto Must Go" calls by urging his critics to propose constitutional ways for a transfer of power and not resort to violence. It is quite difficult to answer the question "Is President William Ruto planning a constitutional coup?" Providing an answer here would be tantamount to trying to foresee the future, and no one can. There is no clear evidence that President William Ruto is planning a constitutional coup in Kenya. The term "constitutional coup" typically refers to the manipulation of legal or constitutional processes by a politician to consolidate their power, often by undermining democratic institutions or expanding their rule. Current sources and sentiments on X raise concerns about Ruto's actions, but these remain speculative and lack concrete evidence. However, there are some statements by William Ruto that are worth noting. For example, on June 17, 2025, Ruto publicly declared that he would not hand over power to the opposition. This statement alarmed many Kenyans, as it is viewed as a disregard for the constitutional order and the democratic process. This sentence carries a lot of weight. What does it mean constitutionally? According to the Kenyan Constitution, the peaceful transfer of power after an election is mandatory. Even if an incumbent president refuses to attend the ceremony, the transfer of power will still take place. Ruto's statements have therefore been classified by legal experts and activists as dangerous and potentially unconstitutional. It is clear that these statements did not go unnoticed, and time has shown us this. Protests against Ruto have intensified since 2024, particularly following the death of a blogger in police custody and the passage of a controversial finance bill. The police used brutal tactics against demonstrators, sometimes with fatal consequences. Human rights organizations report over 100 deaths. The repercussions were not lost, and Ruto is facing growing criticism. Criticism comes from both the opposition and sections of the population, especially the younger generation. Many accuse him of undermining democratic principles and displaying authoritarian tendencies. Whether this can be called a "constitutional coup" depends on whether Ruto is actually attempting to override the constitution—for example, by manipulating the next election or refusing to transfer power. It's still a scenario, but the concern is real. This concern is also real because there have been numerous kidnappings and extrajudicial killings in Kenya, and these are rarely or not at all prosecuted. Albert Ojwang, who was beaten to death in police custody, including by prisoners who were instructed by the police, is only halfway through being addressed. Upon his arrival at the police station, the DCI officers said the order came from the very top. So far, the investigation has focused on Samson Talam, the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at the Nairobi Central Police Station. He was arrested in connection with the murder in Eldoret. According to a statement by Constable James Mukhwana, Talam allegedly received instructions from Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat to "discipline" Ojwang and passed these instructions on to Mukhwana. The most important constitutional mechanisms in Kenya are primarily enshrined in the 2010 Constitution. This Constitution represents the highest source of law and guarantees the absolute validity of the Constitution over all other laws, which must be constitutionally compliant (Article 2). Core mechanisms include: - Fundamental rights: Systematized and significantly reformed, fundamental rights prevail over all other laws and must be respected by all state organs. Every individual is a direct holder of fundamental rights, and there are comprehensive procedures for violations of fundamental rights, including court proceedings and human rights commissions. - Democratic rights: These include freedom of political parties, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, and voting rights, which are enshrined in the Constitution for the first time, thus clearly committing Kenya to party democracy (Articles 36-38). - Executive and separation of powers: Executive power is exercised by the President and Cabinet, but with checks and balances such as parliamentary approval for the appointment of Cabinet members (Articles 131 et seq., Article 152, paragraph 2). - Electoral Commission: The Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) is enshrined in the Constitution as an independent body (Article 41, paragraph 1) and is responsible for conducting free and fair elections, voter registration, and constituency allocation. - Party Law and Party Financing: The Constitution recognizes the right to form and join political parties. The registration and regulation of political parties has so far been handled primarily by the Registrar under the Societies Act, which has been criticized. A new Political Parties Act is intended to create more transparent and fairer rules, including disclosure of party finances and a state fund for party financing. - Rule of law and justice: The Constitution guarantees the right to a fair trial, access to legal recourse, and detailed procedural rights (Articles 48-50). These mechanisms, together with the high constitutional status, the enshrinement of fundamental and human rights, the separation of powers, the institutional independence of the Electoral Commission, and the rights to political participation, have formed the core of Kenya's constitutional order since 2010. @https://www.facebook.com/groups/1075936805923542/posts/samson-talam-the-officer-commanding-station-ocs-at-nairobis-central-police-stati/2749045251946014 @https://www.quora.com/Is-it-normal-to-keep-thinking-of-the-same-scenario-over-and-over-but-with-a-slight-change-of-detail-It-is-a-realistic-scenario-btw-And-how-can-I-make-it-go-away-as-this-has-been-bothering-me-for-years @https://www.brookings.edu/articles/kenya-presidential-elections-and-the-rule-of-law @https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DvRjOO9FjdiY @https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D8u0H0r98MlQ @https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DcBy8rC9s0oo @https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/iez/03278.pdf @https://www.kas.de/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=ebb4bf30-b902-52ee-cb6d-616d195e32c2&groupId=252038 @https://d-nb.info/1318877415/34 @https://www.kas.de/en/web/kenia/laenderberichte/detail/-/content/das-verfassungsreferendum-in-kenia-ein-gebot-der-stunde1 @ http://www.kenyalaw.org/kl/index.php?id=398 @https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/kenia/02120-booklet.pdf @https://www.gtai.de/de/trade/kenia-wirtschaft/gesetze @https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenia @https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/999620/fad94440cbc8a9ed7e6323693b3e7d3d/WD-2-015-24-pdf.pdf @https://www.giga-hamburg.de/assets/pure/24533012/gf_global_1104.pdf