During the latest edition of News Gang, journalist Sam Gituku gave his thoughts on President William Ruto’s recent apology to the youth of Kenya.
The President had made the statement during the National Prayer Breakfast, where he said to young people, “Forgive me if I have wronged you in any way.”
This message was delivered alongside another apology to Tanzania, where he promised to maintain good relations with Kenya’s neighbour after some recent diplomatic tensions.
Sam Gituku’s reaction stood out because of how he looked deeper into the President’s words. He said there were two things to note. On one hand, the apology was clever and polite, but on the other hand, it also avoided taking full responsibility.
Photo of Sam Gituku. File
Gituku said, “There are two things that I find in that statement. First, it is a clever way of relaying an apology, but on the other side, it is also a clever way of not admitting any wrong.”
The President appeared to be saying sorry without fully accepting blame for what many young people believe are real problems caused by the government.
By saying “if I have wronged you,” the President left his apology open to interpretation. This means that he did not directly admit to doing anything wrong, but instead used words that could be seen as soft or unsure.
For many young people, this kind of message feels like the government is not really listening. They are struggling with joblessness, a high cost of living, and feeling ignored by leaders. Recent protests in several parts of the country have shown how deep this frustration goes.
Young people expected the President to face the issues head-on. They wanted clear answers and responsibility. Instead, the message they received felt like it was meant to calm them down without offering real solutions.
Gituku’s comments reminded viewers that sometimes leaders use polite language to avoid being blamed, even when things are going wrong.
The second part of the President’s apology, which was to Tanzania, also drew attention. He said Kenya values good relationships with neighbouring countries. This was seen as a way to ease tension after recent disagreements with Tanzania. While that move was welcomed in some circles, the youth at home felt that their struggles were not given the same level of attention.
