Opposition leaders have demanded that President William Ruto ensure justice for victims of forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings before they can take his apology to Kenyans seriously.
The leaders, including Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua of the People Liberation Party, are seeking reparations for affected families and the withdrawal of restrictive laws threatening digital freedoms.
In an official joint statement signed by the Jubilee Party, Kanu, DAP-Kenya, and DP, the leaders said while they welcomed Ruto's move to apologise to Kenyans, his actions must match his apology.
''We, the undersigned political parties, take note of the reconciliatory tone and public apology issued by President William Ruto. While this shift in tone is welcomed, we must remind the President that apologies, however well-intentioned, must be accompanied by tangible action,'' the leaders said.
Ruto’s speech, marked by a reconciliatory tone, sought to mend relations with Kenyan Gen Zs, who organised massive protests in June last year to oppose the government's move to increase taxes, as they also demanded accountable leadership.
In his speech during the National Prayer Breakfast in Nairobi, Ruto also apologised to Tanzania and Uganda, following weeks of political tension and protests. While some saw his remarks as well-intended, opposition leaders were sceptical, as they swiftly responded with their list of demands.
The opposition leaders also demanded the immediate halt of the use of the unlawful justice system to suppress the opposition.
Beyond national concerns, opposition parties urged Ruto, as chairman of the East African Community, to demand accountability from his counterparts in Uganda and Tanzania, citing the recent cases of frustration faced by Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi while in Tanzania.
The leaders revealed that they were highly disappointed by President Ruto's failure to defend Kenyan activists and leaders who faced oppression at the hands of other regional presidents.
"Nowhere in the world does a head of state fail to defend their citizens when attacked or humiliated by foreign regimes. His failure to acknowledge or comment on what happened is an indictment of his nature and penchant for clawing back on human rights gains and the dignity of the people," the leaders argued.
President Ruto elicited a heated debate after he issued the public apology to Kenyans during the National Prayer Breakfast on Wednesday.
On their part, Kenyan Gen Zs have underscored the importance of the apology to be accompanied by action, rather than just words.
