United Democratic Alliance (UDA) national youth leader Kariuki Ngunjiri has urged Kenyans to back President William Ruto’s policy decisions, even when they may appear unpopular in the short term, emphasizing their importance for the country’s long-term prosperity.
In an exclusive interview with The Star, Ngunjiri lauded Ruto for his bold leadership style, describing it as a departure from the populist approaches often observed in African politics. “Previously it was easy to avoid criticism as a head of state. It was easy to approach public policy, sometimes casually. But in the current age, with a populace highly educated and informed, you require a solid leader as president,” he said.
Ngunjiri highlighted that Kenya’s growing economy demands firm, consistent, and knowledgeable leadership. He argued that Ruto’s interventions are crucial in sustaining economic growth projections, which indicate a stable upward trajectory for the country. “The current state of affairs projects Kenya’s economic growth to spiral up stably, but it takes key interventions taken by the President to sustain such,” he noted.
The youth leader also called on citizens to rise above ethnic and political divisions and adopt a nationalist mindset. “It doesn’t matter where one comes from; we need to adopt a nationalist approach to every subject,” Ngunjiri said, stressing that unity of purpose is vital for Kenya’s progress.
Ngunjiri praised Ruto’s efforts to promote national cohesion through the formation of a broad-based government, particularly following the political and economic unrest experienced earlier this year. “Politics seemed polarised until the President went out of his way to embrace those opposite. And what’s amazing is the easiness with which he is able to co-opt opposition politicians,” he said.
The UDA leader pointed to the coalition agreement between Ruto’s party and Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in early 2025 as a prime example of strategic leadership. The move followed widespread protests over new tax proposals and rising public debt and was seen as a stabilizing step toward national unity and economic recovery.
“Very few political leaders in Africa will make hard decisions and defend such positions. Many play populist politics to avoid negative criticism, but President Ruto has chosen the harder, more meaningful path,” Ngunjiri concluded.
Through these decisive actions, he argued, Ruto is demonstrating that strong, principled leadership is essential for Kenya’s sustainable development and national cohesion.
