Gen Z businessman-c*m-activist Morara Kebaso has disclosed that the government has sought to bring him on board following his series of videos that have embarrassed the state over stalled projects launched by President William Ruto.
The 28-year-old, known for his sharp critiques and satirical takes, rose to prominence by exposing unfinished government projects across the country.
Kebaso has leveraged satire, including parodies of Ruto’s well-known speeches about project allocations, to highlight white elephant projects.
In a post on X on August 26, 2024, Kebaso revealed that he had received a significant offer to join the government.
“I don’t want to lie. I have received offers to join the government even from the president himself but I told him I am just fine,” he wrote.
Speaking to a local daily, Kebaso emphasized his mission to uncover government corruption through the revelation of stalled projects.
“My intention is to sensitise Kenyans about corruption in government. That is why I have been going round the country to reveal stalled projects and those that have not kicked off despite promises by President Ruto’s administration,” he said.
“When Gen Zs called for protests I had no option but to join them in the fight for a better Kenya,” he added.
Criticism
President William Ruto has in recent days come under intense scrutiny for what critics describe as a pattern of relaunching development projects that were originally initiated by his predecessor, retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The accusations, which have dominated headlines in recent weeks, show how Ruto is merely repurposing old initiatives as part of his ongoing nationwide development tour.
In response to the growing criticism, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed issued a statement defending the President’s actions.
Mohamed argued that Ruto’s commitment to completing all stalled projects, including those launched before he took office, is a sign of responsible leadership.
“It’s a mark of responsibility for a President to ensure that all feasible projects, including those that stalled before his election, are completed. This commitment is actually part of the pledges President Ruto made in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto, the very document that got him elected,” Mohamed wrote in a post on X on August 17, 2024.
The spokesperson went on to explain that Ruto’s development tours across the country are not only about launching new projects but also about inspecting ongoing ones and reviving those that have stalled.
“So yes, during his development tours across the country, the President will continue to implement the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, including launching new projects, inspecting ongoing ones, and, where necessary, reviving and completing those that stalled before his election—ALL FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE P****E! Have a great and responsible weekend, folks,” Mohamed added.
Uhuru-era projects
Despite these explanations, the criticism has not abated.
Since the beginning of August, Ruto has relaunched several projects that were initially unveiled by Uhuru Kenyatta during his time in office.
In the Mt. Kenya region, for instance, Ruto recently launched the Iriari and Kanyuambora Irrigation project on August 8, 2024.
This same project was first launched by former Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki on March 8, 2021, with an expected completion timeline of one and a half years.
Similarly, during his tour of Murang’a, Ruto launched the Murang’a Kiriaini road, a project that began in 2019 but stalled in 2020.
The Ksh800 million Kaigonji irrigation project in Tetu, which Ruto commissioned on August 12, 2024, started in 2017 and was completed in April 2024.
In August 2023, Ruto relaunched several projects, including the Ksh15 million Githurai water supply project, which was first launched in May 2020, and the Githurai modern market, originally launched in 2019.
Other projects that were launched during Uhuru’s administration but have been relaunched by Ruto include the Ksh1.1 billion Kagio Water supply and the Ksh60 million Othaya Water Sewerage plant.
This pattern of Ruto relaunching projects has also been recently witnessed in the Nyanza and Coast regions.