President William Ruto has defended his leadership style following growing criticism that he frequently micromanages senior government officials and appointees.
Speaking at State House, Nairobi, on Monday during the launch of retired Major Marsden Madoka’s autobiography, President Ruto dismissed claims that he stifles the independence of his Cabinet appointees and principal secretaries.
According to Ruto, those uncomfortable with his leadership style often misunderstand his commitment to excellence.
''Many times I am accused of micromanaging staff, but you see, when you have reluctant people whose only mentality is that they have seen many governments come and go, that is not right. That is why I have taken the ambition of our country personally,'' Ruto said.
The Head of State said his hands-on approach is intentional and driven by his desire to deliver tangible results for Kenyans, an approach that his critics have not been at peace with, according to him.
The President noted that his critics mistake his insistence on performance for control, explaining that his administration cannot afford mediocrity.
''For far too long, we have worked with the usual and mediocrity. Our standard has been the average. You should know that that is not our standard; we are made to win, and that is why people have been restless with my approach,'' he added.
Ruto said his approach is rooted in the belief that Kenya must rise above a culture of excuses and delayed implementation of projects to compete with global peers such as Singapore.
''When I get pushed, however, it is because I am the leader. I will also push the limits for our nation. The need not to associate with the average is what is driving me,'' he remarked.
Meanwhile, Ruto has been facing accusations over his headstrong nature in advancing government policies such as the affordable housing and reforms on health, among them, the transition to the Social Health Authority.
The latest appointees to have exited the government include former Murang’a Senator Kembi Gitura, who resigned in August, as Chairman of the Board at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), barely eight months after his appointment to the position.
He stressed that his resignation was guided by his political convictions, noting that he does not support the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) government or its policies.
A month earlier, senior Economic Adviser to the President, Moses Kuria, also resigned from the government, just ten months after being appointed to the role. Despite not revealing why he resigned, he has lately been opposing some government policies that were initiated when he was in the government, such as the deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti.
