President William Ruto’s ambitious campaign promises to Kenya’s youth are now turning into a political liability, as growing disillusionment fuels widespread protests and online backlash.
In the run-up to the 2022 General Election, Ruto pledged to end police brutality, create jobs, improve youth access to credit, and include young people in governance. His Youth Charter outlined interventions across key sectors business, education, health, creative industries, and agriculture. The flagship Hustler Fund, launched with Sh50 billion, was intended to offer affordable loans. However, disbursements averaging Sh500 disappointed many, and over half of borrowers have since defaulted, leading the government to plan a Sh6 billion loan write-off.
Other promises have also faltered. Tax waivers for youth businesses, a unified SME licence system, and fast government payments to suppliers remain largely unfulfilled. Meanwhile, youth-targeted initiatives like the Affordable Housing Programme and Kazi Majuu have been criticised for having limited reach.
Internship stipends, tax incentives for employers, and removal from the Credit Reference Bureau were all promised but remain inconsistently implemented. The youth’s frustration deepened with the new student funding model, which critics say offers inadequate support, contrary to Ruto’s earlier pledge to increase HELB allocations and provide a repayment grace period.
Beyond economics, the failure to address police brutality has enraged many. Rights groups report over 140 protest-related deaths since 2023 most of them young demonstrators. Despite promises of justice and police reforms, little has changed. The June 2025 Gen Z protests highlighted grievances ranging from state brutality to exclusion from governance.
Ruto’s commitment to youth leadership 30% of public appointments and more youth-led county administration remains largely unfulfilled. Meanwhile, projects like the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks, meant to spur agro-processing jobs, have stalled in over a dozen counties.
As youth discontent grows, Ruto insists these challenges predate his presidency. But the gap between his promises and the lived reality of Kenya’s youth is becoming too wide to ignore posing a serious threat to his political future.
