Why diaspora discontent threatens Ruto 2027 reelection bid

President William Ruto continues to face his litmus test over the diaspora agenda, even as he extends an olive branch to woo them, cementing his re-election plan seems to be experiencing headwinds by the day.
The diaspora, long praised for its remittances and political clout, has increasingly become a constituency that no Kenyan president can afford to ignore, yet it is one that Ruto is now struggling to win over.
Nothing exemplifies the disillusionment of this constituency and cold shoulder towards Ruto than last Sunday’s last-minute cancellation of his planned town hall in New York City, which was meant to be the precursor to his busy week at the United Nations General Assembly. This latest reminder of the uneasy relationship between the Head of State and diaspora is not the first time Ruto has sought to engage Kenyans abroad.
During his 2022 campaign and later on his state visit to Washington, D.C., where Kenya was designated a non-NATO ally, he met the diaspora with promises of better representation, cheaper remittance channels, investment opportunities, and even expanded voting rights.
President William Ruto addressing the UNGA80 in NewYork. Image @William Samoei Ruto/Facebook
But three years on, frustrations remain. Many diasporans are now ‘fed up’ and complain that their concerns have been ignored or reduced to political rhetoric.
While the ruling Kenya Kwanza regime created a Diaspora Affairs office and announced plans for a diaspora investment fund, critics say implementation has been slow and cosmetic, leaving critical issues, like taxation, accountability for Remittance, and political inclusion, unresolved.
Organizers of the New York Town Hall meeting blamed logistical hurdles occasioned by the inability of Kenyans to confirm their attendance in good time, which made it impossible to obtain permits and arrange security with the NYPD.
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But behind the bureaucratic language lies a deeper truth: the Kenyan diaspora simply didn’t show up for Ruto. Unlike in Washington, D.C., in 2024, when the President basked in diaspora adoration after securing Kenya’s non-NATO ally designation, this year’s trip was met with indifference.
“Diaspora enthusiasm has dried up,” said a Kenyan community leader in Boston.
“People used to drive or fly across states to be part of these town halls. Now, they don’t see the point. Many feel used and ignored.”
Kenya’s President William Ruto speaks during a press conference at State House in Nairobi on July 11, 2024.PHOTO/@WilliamsRuto/X
The timing could not be worse. The U.S. Senate is currently reviewing Kenya’s non-NATO ally designation, with lawmakers questioning whether Kenya is a reliable partner. Ruto’s inability to mobilize diaspora support undercuts his efforts to project Kenya as a stable, respected ally on the global stage.
But the disillusionment is not confined to Kenyans abroad. At home, Ruto faces mounting unrest over skyrocketing living costs, controversial tax hikes, and accusations of authoritarian tendencies.
His once-powerful “hustler” narrative, a promise to uplift ordinary Kenyans, has given way to protests, police crackdowns, and growing opposition unity. The diaspora’s cold shoulder in New York mirrors a broader erosion of trust in his leadership.
The contrast could not be starker: In 2024, Ruto stood in the White House Rose Garden beside Former US President Joe Biden, hailed as a strategic partner. Today, he stands isolated, unable to rally his own people, whether in Nairobi or New York.
For many, the cancelled New York town hall meeting is more than a scheduling mishap. It is a symbol of a presidency that has lost its shine, struggling to inspire confidence at home while failing to command loyalty abroad. As one disillusioned diaspora member put it bluntly: “The President may still have the title, but he has lost the people.”