Nairobi Central Ward MCA Mwaniki Kwenya has appealed to Kenyans to give President William Ruto’s administration more time to deliver on its promises, even as anti-government protests continue to gain traction across the country.
Speaking during an interview on K24 TV on June 20, 2025, Kwenya acknowledged the growing public frustration but urged citizens to exercise patience.
“If we fail to work and deliver as leaders, we’ll be sent home—and rightly so. I urge Kenyans to give the President enough time to deliver on his promises,” he stated.
He also noted that Ruto just needs to listen to the ground and adjust reforms, saying that he has a real opportunity to turn this country around in the favor of its citizens.
“President Ruto has a real opportunity to turn this country around—he just needs to listen to the ground,” said Kwenya. “As leaders, we still have time to deliver on the promises we made to Kenyans.”
“We’re not going to hold elections next week. Let’s give our leaders the time and space to do their work—and then hold them accountable when the time is right,” he added.
His sentiments come at a time when Kenyans are taking to the streets to protest proposed tax increases under the Finance Bill 2025, alongside concerns over police brutality and economic mismanagement.
The recent killing of a mask vendor in Nairobi by police has further intensified anger, adding to a growing list of grievances that include the controversial death of blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody.
Benji Ndolo, a political analyst present during the interview, noted that people don’t want to keep hearing the ‘give it time’ argument. The President is human—he probably doesn’t even sleep—and I believe he’s just as frustrated by how hard it is to bring about quick change.
He, however, lamented despite him giving the president the benefit of the doubt. Ruto’s government is full of blunders and rampant corruption.
“I was among those who believed that within six months of President Ruto’s leadership, we’d see real progress and someone making a difference. Unfortunately, that’s not the picture we’re seeing. What’s come out instead is a series of blunders and rampant corruption,” he noted.
Amid the turbulence, Kwenya also raised concerns over what he termed as the “systemic sidelining” of Members of County Assemblies in national development conversations. “The reason people aren’t feeling the impact of government delivery is because MCAs are not recognised or involved meaningfully,” he said. “We are the ones closest to the citizens, and yet we lack the support we need to serve them effectively. We must be properly facilitated.”
His remarks strike a delicate balance between defending the government and acknowledging the public’s growing demand for accountability. As protests swell in major towns and cities, the national mood remains tense, with young people at the forefront of the pushback against policies they deem oppressive.
Kwenya’s call for calm and institutional reform puts a spotlight on the need for more inclusive governance. Whether the government will heed these calls and act swiftly remains to be seen. But as the pressure mounts, the administration’s ability to de-escalate tensions and deliver tangible results will determine the trajectory of the country’s political stability in the coming weeks.
