William Ruto 's Masterclass in Politics and Economy

This is an opinion piece by Lewis Ngunyi (a Kenyan political analyst, strategist, and commentator known for his outspoken views on governance, elections, and leadership in Kenya), published in the Daily Nation on February 13, 2026.

The article criticizes President William Ruto's handling of political maneuvers, particularly in connection with the attempted expulsion (and subsequent reinstatement) of Edwin Sifuna as Secretary-General of the ODM (Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), a major center-left party in Kenya focused on social democracy, good governance, and decentralized prosperity, led by Raila Odinga. It emerged in 2005 from a grassroots movement against constitutional amendments and played a key role in the Kenyan elections). The political maneuvering surrounding Edwin Sifuna, the Nairobi senator and ODM Secretary-General, revolves around his recent expulsion attempt by the ODM National Executive Committee (NEC) and the subsequent legal blockade. The conflict stems from the ODM-NEC's decision on February 11, 2026, in Mombasa, to remove Sifuna as Secretary-General, citing disciplinary violations, breaches of protocol, and undermining of party leadership. Sifuna viewed this as a violation of the party constitution and natural justice, as he was given no opportunity to defend himself; he also criticized internal plans to support President Ruto. The political maneuvering and the reasons behind his removal were the result of accumulated tensions. Sifuna publicly questioned the leadership's legitimacy, issued contradictory coalition messages, and was suspected of being too lenient towards pro-Ruto figures. This was done strategically before coalition negotiations and elections to ensure a unified message and consolidate internal power. Public petitions and predictions from senior party members signaled consensus. Sifuna was reinstated by the courts, but on February 12, 2026, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) halted the reinstatement by emergency order; publication was suspended until the hearing on February 26. Sifuna thus remains in office for the time being and emphasizes his loyalty to ODM and Raila Odinga. The article's main points are that Ngunyi argues that Ruto employs tactics that appear clever in controlled environments (such as board meetings or negotiations with the elite) but backfire dramatically in public. Specifically, Ngunyi states that the attempt to remove Sifuna—which is seen as evidence of Ruto's influence within the broad governing coalition that includes ODM—has backfired. And instead of silencing a vocal critic (Sifuna had repeatedly spoken out against aspects of Ruto's administration and the coalition), he increased Sifuna's name recognition. Sifuna has achieved martyr status, particularly among younger voters and Generation Z, and turned an internal ODM issue into a nationwide symbol of resistance against Ruto. This fits a pattern in which Ruto confuses "engagement" (bringing opponents into the fold through deals) with genuine "control," prioritizing short-term suppression of the opposition over long-term stability. The result: It fuels discontent in the streets rather than political containment. This episode is reminiscent of earlier criticisms of Ruto's decisions, such as the 2024 impeachment of former Vice President Rigathi Gachagua, which also increased Gachagua's name recognition and the opposition's popularity rather than diminishing it. Ruto's government has repeatedly faced accusations of strategic errors that have strengthened the opposition: Specifically, the broad coalition government with the ODM (formed after the 2024 protests and the withdrawal of the Finance Bill) is cited. While it aimed for political stabilization, it created internal tensions because figures like Sifuna refused to fully support Ruto's re-election ambitions for 2027. Recent events, such as Sifuna's rally in Kitengela (February 15, 2026), drew large crowds chanting anti-Ruto slogans ("One term only"). The police use of tear gas reinforced the perception of repression. Critics see this as self-inflicted problems, as the early buying of the opposition created space for new votes against Ruto; attempts to silence critics often lead to their destruction. A similar phrase to "master class" can also be found in other analyses (e.g., on foreign policy missteps or the handling of domestic protests), but Ngunyi's article best addresses your question. Essentially, the "master class" is ironic sarcasm: Ruto's maneuvers may appear like clever chess, but ultimately they hand his opponents powerful pieces. Whether this weakens his voter base in the run-up to the 2027 elections is currently a much-debated question in Kenya. And now we come to another masterclass. The phrase “Ruto’s Masterclass in Economic Mismanagement” reflects the sarcastic undertone of current Kenyan discussions and opinion pieces, in which critics ironically refer to President William Ruto’s economic policies as a “masterclass” in failure, much like the earlier criticism of his political miscalculations. It is not a direct headline in a major media outlet (unlike Lewis Ngunyi’s political article), but it captures the widespread frustration in February 2026 over high living costs, debt burdens, perceived corruption, and unfulfilled promises from the grassroots. Critics portray Ruto’s actions as a series of self-sabotaging measures that, while stabilizing macroeconomic indicators (e.g., the strength of the shilling, declining inflation), do so at the expense of the lives of ordinary Kenyans. This is because there is exploding national debt and unsustainable borrowing. Kenya's debt burden remains crushing (over 10 billion Kenyan shillings have been added in recent years, mainly inherited from previous governments, but also continued under Ruto). Debt servicing consumes massive portions of revenue and restricts spending on essential goods. Social services and subsidies are financed through further debt and taxes, creating a "costly, unsustainable social economy" instead of structural growth. The cost of living crisis and the betrayal of small businesses are also pressing concerns. The "Basic Agenda" promised improvements for small traders, farmers, and the informal workforce, but many see it as nothing more than empty promises. Everyday problems include skyrocketing prices, stagnant incomes, and the despair etched on the faces of Kenyans. Programs such as youth funds (e.g., NYOTA) or previous disbursements (e.g., for motorcycle taxis and sewing machines) are criticized as wasteful PR stunts that flood saturated sectors, injecting funds into industries rather than supporting manufacturing or agricultural processing. And as always and everywhere, corruption and mismanagement scandals are recurring themes, including bribery in fertilizer subsidies, inflated contracts, counterfeit inputs (e.g., fertilizer mixed with sand), and wasteful spending (e.g., billions spent on software and hospitals while the facilities deteriorate, private jets amidst crises). Kenya's low ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index (around 30 out of 100 in recent reports) fuels the claim that the economy only benefits Ruto and his cronies, with billions lost annually to corruption. The unfulfilled promises and selective successes are highlighted during opposition campaign tours, which focus on repression, broken promises (e.g., projects in northern Kenya), and the economic consequences of geopolitical maneuvering. The government counters with stabilized economic figures, youth programs, and infrastructure projects. Critics, however, accuse her of gaslighting – reframing mistakes, blaming a predecessor or external factors, or resorting to short-term populism. In public discourse, the term "master class" is often used sarcastically to describe alleged blatant plunder, brazen impunity, or grandiose rhetoric that contradicts harsh reality. Examples include accusations of taxing the poor to protect the powerful while simultaneously preaching diligence and perseverance. Of course, there are the counterarguments from the government/Ruto's supporters, who emphasize stabilization (e.g., lower inflation, recovery of the Kenyan shilling), reject the "failing state" narrative as sabotage, and highlight initiatives such as tax exemptions for low-income earners (under 30,000 KSh), youth funds, and investments in northern Kenya (roads, electricity supply, drought relief). She presents difficult decisions as necessary for long-term growth and dismisses the opposition's narratives as a distortion of reality. In mid-February 2026, this narrative intensifies amid political demonstrations, security incidents, and opposition actions in western Kenya—linking economic difficulties to widespread discontent in the lead-up to 2027. The crucial question is whether the overall economic gains will benefit the general population or trigger further unrest. https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/blogs/ruto-s-masterclass-in-political-miscalculation-5358684