Video: Tough Time For Ruto As Demonstrations Emerge In Rift Valley, “One Term” Chants Rent The Air
NAIROBI, KENYA — Political headwinds are stirring in President William Ruto’s core political stronghold as thousands of aggrieved residents took to the streets in the Rift Valley, signaling growing dissatisfaction within his backyard.
A video circulating online shows demonstrations by evicted families from the Mau Forest complex, raising fresh political challenges for the Kenya Kwanza administration ahead of future electoral battles.
Growing Discontent and Forest Protests
The Rift Valley region provided significant support for President William Ruto during the 2022 General Election, serving as the bedrock that propelled him to State House. However, the emerging unrest highlights shifting ground dynamics among voters who feel key campaign expectations remain unmet.
In the video, angry protesters—comprising evicted Mau Forest settlers—are seen chanting hostility toward the leadership. Chants of “One Term!” echoed through the demonstration as families voiced deep frustration over unfulfilled pledges regarding their compensation and resettlement.
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The demonstrators issued an ultimatum to the national government, threatening to forcefully reoccupy their former land allocations in the Mau Forest complex if their grievances are not resolved immediately.
Deep Roots: Decades of Displacement in the Mau
The Mau Forest Complex—East Africa’s largest water tower—has been a flashpoint of political, environmental, and humanitarian contention for decades.
- Historical Encroachment and Mass Operations: Beginning in the 1990s, vast swathes of the forest were allocated, leading to thousands of families settling and farming in areas such as Maasai Mau. Between 2018 and 2019, past administrations launched multi-agency security operations to reclaim the forest, forcibly removing tens of thousands of families and leaving communities in makeshift squatter camps.
- The Indigenous Ogiek Claim: Beyond modern settlers, the indigenous Ogiek community has faced repeated displacement from their ancestral lands in the Mau despite regional court rulings recognizing their land rights.
Unfulfilled Campaign Promises
During the 2022 presidential campaign, the Kenya Kwanza coalition heavily criticized previous government actions, promising displaced families immediate compensation, alternative land settlements, and an end to their displacement in exchange for political support.
While the administration has rolled out compensation programs—including targeted disbursements to displaced families—delays, perceived disparities in payout amounts, and exclusion from beneficiary lists have left thousands feeling abandoned.
The ultimatum poses a delicate dilemma for government authorities, who face the dual challenge of enforcing environmental conservation policies around the critical water tower while managing political pressure from displaced voters. Political observers note that maintaining support in the Rift Valley will require state intervention and direct dialogue to reassure residents that campaign commitments will be delivered in full.
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