Amid escalating political rivalry between President William Ruto and his estranged former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, a growing alliance of youthful leaders across the political divide is plotting a bold rebellion against Kenya’s traditional power structures.
Frustrated by what they term as ethnic-based politics and elite-driven power games, the young politicians are coalescing around what they describe as a “third force” — a movement that seeks to champion fiscal accountability, industrialization, and the voice of Gen Z voters. Their goal: to reclaim the country from what they call the “ever-politicking ruling class.”
In Western Kenya, the rebellion is led by Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, who, alongside fellow lawmakers Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi Senator), Majimbo Kalasinga (Kabuchai), and Wanami Wamboka (Bumula), is mobilizing a youth revolution to challenge the influence of President Ruto, Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi, and Moses Wetang’ula.
“You want youth to liberate Western Kenya? We are enough. We don’t even need Team Wamunyoro. We alone are enough to send William Ruto home,” Amisi declared during a charged rally, adding that the group will unveil a larger coalition on August 3, aimed at dismantling existing political loyalties in the region.
The leaders are planning a grassroots mobilisation tour across the Western region, vowing not to negotiate their political future through Raila, Mudavadi, or Wetang’ula.
In a parallel movement, youthful leaders from other regions — including Peter Salasya (Mumias East), Babu Owino (Embakasi East), and Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata — are engaging in talks aimed at forming a broader national coalition of youth leaders.
Speaking in Murang’a, Salasya praised Kang’ata for his development agenda, saying: “Leaders have forgotten key roles of industrialisation and job creation as envisaged by our forefathers. This explains why Kang’ata, Babu and I need to join hands and form a political force to liberate this country.”
Owino, meanwhile, lashed out at President Ruto, accusing him of abandoning the promises he made to his electorate. “Ruto was voted in to be a better person, not a bitter one,” he said. “This government only understands the language of protests and one-term threats.”
In Central Kenya, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has taken a different approach — waging an anti-Ruto campaign focused on budgetary and economic accountability. Nyoro has openly criticized the Kenya Kwanza government over alleged fiscal mismanagement, including the diversion of National Social Security Fund (NSSF) money into questionable infrastructure projects.
“We can’t play with workers’ money. NSSF’s role is to invest prudently, not to build roads because private investors refused,” Nyoro said. He accused the government of coercing NSSF into public-private partnerships that mainly serve personal interests.
Nyoro further raised the alarm over the National Treasury’s borrowing practices, claiming that a recent Sh175 billion loan secured through the fuel levy will cost taxpayers over Sh300 billion to repay.
“Even the IMF is concerned. We are walking into a financial ditch like Zambia. I want to tell government officials — the law will soon catch up with you. This country is heading to the dogs,” Nyoro warned.
