Kenya, July 10 -- A KTN News investigative segment aired on July 9, 2025, has revealed how President William Ruto's administration mobilized women to bolster attendance at his rally in Nairobi's Kilimani area, intensifying scrutiny of his leadership amid deadly Saba Saba protests.
The report detailed how women were ferried to the event, raising questions about the authenticity of Ruto's public support as Kenya grapples with unrest that claimed 31 lives and caused a Sh18 billion daily GDP loss.
The expose comes as Ruto faces growing criticism for unfulfilled promises, including creating 4 million jobs, and his hardline stance against protesters.
The KTN News segment, titled "Mobilizing Women," highlighted a conspicuously large female presence at Ruto's July 9 rally during the commissioning of a police housing project in Kilimani.
KTN reported that women were transported to the venue, with some allegedly paid to cheer and applaud, creating an impression of grassroots support.
Netizens raised their concerns, saying, "KTN has exposed how women were mobilised and ferried to attend Ruto's rally in Kilimani today," while others linked the tactic to accusations of tribalism.
The report suggested that the mobilization was orchestrated to counter the narrative of declining popularity, especially among Gen Z protesters chanting "Ruto wantam" (one term).
Ruto's rally, part of his push to highlight government projects like the Affordable Housing Programme, was overshadowed by his controversial directive to police to "shoot protesters in the leg" if caught looting, a stance condemned by the KNCHR and international groups like Human Rights Watch.
The KTN expose aligns with broader criticisms of Ruto's governance, including his failure to deliver on a 2022 pledge to create 4 million jobs with Sh200 billion, with only 320,000 housing jobs and 400,000 overseas placements reported.
Other people said that the mobilized crowd was a strategic move to mask public discontent, a sentiment echoed by analysts who note Ruto's reliance on populist optics.
The mobilization tactic has drawn parallels to past political strategies in Kenya, where crowds were allegedly paid to boost rally numbers, a practice critics argue undermines democratic engagement.
Political analyst Karuti Kanyinga warned that Ruto's disconnect with youth and reliance on staged support could deepen unrest ahead of the 2027 elections.
As families mourn protest victims, including a Nyamira student killed before the Itibo Police Station burning, Ruto's women's mobilization strategy has only amplified calls for accountability and genuine dialogue to address Kenya's economic and social crises.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.