“How do I go?”, Ruto poses after violent protests by Gen Zs
President William Ruto has dismissed calls by protesting Gen Z youths that he should vacate office, asking them to give him an alternative of how he should go other than through elections and term limits.
Ruto, who was speaking during World MSME Day 2025 celebrations at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, noted that according to the country’s 2010 Constitution, one can serve for a maximum of two terms if he wins re-election.
“If it is a question of terms, the Constitution has already sorted out and settled the issue of term limits. You can either be one or two-term. You cannot have more than that. So what is this craze about terms?” he posed.
“If it is Ruto must go, then tell me how you want me to go. What do you mean by Ruto must go? How do I go? Because we have a Constitution in place,” he added,
The ‘Ruto Must Go’ crusade by Gen Z started with last year’s revolt against punitive tax proposals contained in the Finance Bill 2024, which later collapsed, before extending to a quest for good governance, job opportunities and lowering of the cost of living.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has since coined the “One Term” campaign which seeks to defeat the President at the 2027 contest.
At the same time, Ruto warned the youths against engaging in violent acts following Wednesday’s looting and destruction of property when protests called to mark the first anniversary of the June 25 killings when police shot dozens of people after they breached security and stormed Parliament.
“If you want Ruto to go, look for a better plan. Violence will not, anarchy will not. It will not sort out our country. Let’s be honest with one another,” he said.
He also challenged opposition leaders to offer alternatives to what the Kenya Kwanza administration is doing to uplift the people’s lives.
“Do the honourable thing. Develop a better plan than the one I have – one that creates more jobs, lowers the cost of living, that creates more opportunities for the young people of Kenya. You cannot replace a plan that is working that you do not like, with no plan.”
He added: “Please! There are very few fools in Kenya. Persuade us. If you persuade us, I can also go and concentrate on farming and help in food security. But don’t burn the country—for heaven’s sake, we don’t have another country.”
