President William Ruto Accused of Overrunning Kenya's Institutions

Former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u said President William Ruto repeatedly micromanages government bodies, creating a culture of fear and undermining institutional independence. Ndung’u argued that while Kenya’s public institutions have the capacity to act correctly, executive interference forces officials to conform.

He recalled refusing to engage in questionable financial deals while heading the Treasury, noting that such actions can haunt officials for life. Ndung’u also cited unresolved legal cases involving former colleagues at the Central Bank of Kenya and warned that political pressure once nearly derailed the launch of the mobile‑money platform M‑Pay.

His comments intensify the debate over the autonomy of constitutional bodies and the balance of power between Kenya’s executive and its agencies.