Double-speak master? Ruto eats own words, embraces Uhuru's playbook on fuel crisis

In a move that has raised eyebrows across the political landscape, President William Ruto appears to be embracing the very playbook he once vehemently opposed, particularly concerning the nation's persistent fuel crisis. The administration's recent reliance on government-to-government (G-to-G) agreements, coupled with subsidies and Value Added Tax (VAT) reductions, mirrors the strategies implemented during former President Uhuru Kenyatta's tenure – strategies that Ruto and his allies frequently denounced as enabling 'cartel' activities.

This apparent pivot marks a significant departure from Ruto's earlier rhetoric, which positioned him as an outsider ready to dismantle entrenched economic cartels. His administration had promised a clean break from what they termed the 'old ways' of managing the economy. However, the current approach suggests a pragmatic, albeit politically sensitive, return to familiar mechanisms, indicating that the complexities of managing national resources may necessitate continuity rather than radical change.

The adoption of these 'Uhuru-era' tactics raises questions about the effectiveness of Ruto's initial promises and the underlying economic challenges facing Kenya. While the immediate goal might be to stabilize fuel prices and alleviate public pressure, the long-term implications of this policy shift and its alignment with the 'bottom-up' economic model remain to be seen. Kenyans will be watching closely to see if this familiar approach yields different, more sustainable results under the current leadership.