How Ruto's Recent Youth Targeted Initiatives Could Win Him Favour

President William Ruto’s recent moves appear to be striking the right chord with Kenya’s younger generation.

In a series of gestures that many may see as politically strategic, the Head of State invited the youth to State House, where he offered them resources and promised financial support to help them pursue their ideas and projects in a move to empower them.

At the same time, Ruto pledged incentives like money and affordable housing units to the Harambee Stars should they keep securing victory in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournaments.

The promise was warmly welcomed by football enthusiasts, particularly the youth, who view the national team as both a source of pride and an outlet for their hopes in sports.

Political analyst Dr. Michael Ndonye, speaking during a discussion on the Talkchat Podcast, noted that the President’s recent gestures are likely to earn him favor among the youth. “We are coming from a time when the youth were disgruntled and constantly asking for inclusion. They felt left alone and no one was addressing them. These recent gestures seem to be sitting well with them,” he said. 

According to Dr. Ndonye, many young people do not lack skills or education; what they need is empowerment and opportunities. Ruto's actions, he outlined, are beginning to speak directly to those needs.

He went further, drawing an analogy with relationships to illustrate the shifting political dynamics. He likened the youth to someone in a relationship where the partner never clearly states their intentions. When another suitor comes forward with a marriage proposal, the first partner suddenly grows angry.

In his view, this mirrors how the opposition has handled the youth, taking them for granted, while the government has now stepped in, offering inclusion and a sense of belonging.

"When the government tells the youth to come on board and makes them feel included, naturally, they will come on board,” Dr. Ndonye explained.

Even so, he noted that sometimes it is hard to separate when the government is working and when it is doing politics highlighting that, “All governments are political institutions and that when they are working, they are also trying to advance their agenda which is also political.”

For now, however, the analyst observed that Ruto appears to be regaining goodwill from a group that had grown frustrated and disillusioned.

With a few carefully chosen gestures, he has reminded the country that in politics, it can be “as easy as that” to change the tide, reminding listeners that in politics, public perception can shift quickly.