They’re Backtracking, But It’s Too Late: Why Kenyans No Longer Trust Their Government

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A Year of Empty Promises

Twelve months ago, Kenyans granted the Ruto administration a full 365-day period of uninterrupted grace. They entrusted the government with power and resources to deliver a reliable economic vision and humane governance. And yet, over that year, fear, disenchantment, and deep mistrust grew—fueled by broken promises, harsh policies, and brutal suppression. Attempts to roll back unpopular policies, such as the Finance Bill, come too late to repair that damage. The cracks have become chasms.

The Finance Bill: Catalyzing Distrust

In June 2024, the Finance Bill proposed a litany of taxes—on bread, cooking oil, mobile money, and even water. In response, Gen Z-led protests erupted across the country. At least 50 people died, hundreds were injured, and thousands were detained. The government promised to reconsider, then backtracked partially—dropping some clauses like the bread levy, but leaving the core structure intact .

That partial retreat did nothing to heal fractured trust. For young Kenyans, it confirmed what they already felt: any concession is a fight away, and that justice is always reactive, not preventive.

The Art of Last-Minute Political Theater

Backtracking has become costume drama. After protests peaked in June 2024, President Ruto withdrew some provisions on June 18 and declined to sign the bill on June 26 . He reshuffled the cabinet to include opposition figures, declared “we listened,” and urged the public to resume normal life theguardian.com.

But these moves sounded hollow. U-turns without accountability are like repairing walls while leaving the foundation cracked. The same bill—same austerity logic—remained. And corruption, police brutality, and public pain continued.

The Real Costs of Trust Broken

1. Human Lives

Kenyans paid with tears and blood. Casualties in June 2024 numbered around 50 dead and over 200 injured just in Nairobi reddit.comnation.africa+4en.wikipedia.org+4en.wikipedia.org+4. Protests this June (2025) once again turned deadly—at least eight killed, over 400 injured—many by police bullets ft.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1.

2. Economic Anxiety

These tax moves were part of an IMF-backed austerity plan. Despite warnings from economists, the state insisted taxing Kenya was inevitable. Jobs remained sparse; wages didn’t rise. Inflation persisted. When hardship is government policy, trust evaporates—especially among youth armed with smartphones and data.

3. Political Alienation

Back in 2024, Afrobarometer reported youth trust in leadership declining (presidency from 43% in 2014 to 22% in 2022) reddit.com+1hornreview.org+1goodauthority.org. Now, leadership relies on apology PR stunts, not real change. Youth already disengaged from formal politics now feel disillusioned beyond hoping.

The Tone-Deaf Backtrack

In echo of KANU-era public manipulation, the government stages performative apologies—resignations, Instagram statements, and symbolic rollbacks. Some MPs lost their seats; others “apologized.” Ministries issue carefully worded regrets. But these gestures don’t translate into systemic correction.

They’re too little, too late:

  • The bill structure remains

  • Brutality continues unchecked

  • Accountability remains a fantasy

  • Protests keep happening

Now, trust is a relic.

 Gen Z: The Generation That Has Seen Too Much

What’s uniquely impactful is that this fight is generational.

Gen Z and young millennials aren’t waiting for 2027. They led protests:

  • They stormed parliament

  • They asked hard questions in public

  • They crowdfunded legal defense

  • They risked their safety to hold MPs accountable

They aren’t chasing leaders—they’re forging a citizen movement. As youth groups and families march together for victims like Albert Ojwang and Boniface Kariuki, the moral stakes are rising en.wikipedia.org+15theguardian.com+15linkedin.com+15peopledaily.digital+1reddit.com+1.

Why This Matters for Governance

When a state relies on coercion and last-minute theatrics, governance becomes unstable. Backtracking on unpopular policy is not evidence of listening—it’s proof of failure.

This brittle system is:

  • Reactive not proactive

  • Unwilling to engage public

  • Insensitive to human cost

  • Prefer repression to policy collaboration

That’s not democracy. It’s desperation.

A Cycle of Reaction Over Reason

So long as protest negates governance—and apologies follow—but trust remains broken, Kenya is witnessing a cycle of dysfunction. Governments:

  1. Pass unpopular bill

  2. Face public backlash

  3. Backtrack partially

  4. Dispatch apologies

  5. Repackage the same policies later

Meanwhile, youth are left fighting, and public institutions sink deeper in distrust. That’s a recipe—not just for instability—but for systemic breakdown.

How Trust Could Be Rebuilt

Trust won’t return through PR. It requires structural change. Here’s how:

  1. Meaningful Public Participation

    • Laws like the Finance Bill must be debated openly, not rushed overnight.

    • Article 118 requires public input. It must be respected.

  2. Police Accountability

    • Independent inquiries into killings—2014, 2023, 2024, 2025—must result in convictions.

    • IPOA must become effective, not powerless.

  3. Fiscal Transparency

    • Debt and austerity must be driven by citizen audits, not IMF pressure.

    • Every shilling should be traceable.

  4. Youth Inclusion

    • Young Kenyans must hold real seats at decision tables—on tech, finance, civic boards.

    • Tokenism isn’t enough.

  5. Participatory Justice

    • Apologies must be followed by reparations.

    • Victims of protests should be compensated—with truth, not hush-money.

A New Social Contract in the Making?

Some analysts argue the protests are writing a new social contract—one fueled by civic engagement, not ballot-box rituals. Notably:

  • In June 2025 alone, 16 deaths and hundreds more show patriarchal state will face lasting resistance.

  • Gen Z movements remain leaderless—uniting across tribe and creed. They want dignity, not dependency.

For trust to return, Kenya needs a contract that honours its citizens—not just acknowledges them.

Final Thoughts: It’s Too Late for Tears

Backtracking may stop current protests. It may appease investors. But it won’t rebuild what was destroyed: trust in leadership’s competence, compassion, and conscience.

As one twitter user put it:

“Trust is the most important thing. When you break it over and over again, you cannot gain it back.”

Kenyans no longer want last-minute apologies—they want real change. Only time, not token gestures, will heal that.

Today, the government can apologize. Tomorrow, people may refuse to forgive.

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