Mr. President, Please Listen

Mr. President, William Samoei Ruto, today I write not in anger but in concern, hope, and prayer.

As I listen to different voices across Kenya journalists, politicians, young people, ordinary citizens, and even some of your supporters. I find myself asking: Are you listening? And if you are listening, are you truly hearing what Kenyans are saying?

Leadership is not only about speaking, launching projects, travelling, or working hard. Leadership is also about listening. It is about hearing the cries, fears, frustrations, and hopes of the people you serve.

Many Kenyans are raising concerns about the direction of the country, the cost of living, taxation, unemployment, governance, accountability, healthcare, education, and decisions being made in the name of development. Whether every criticism is fair or not, surely the concerns deserve to be heard.

Mr. President, do you genuinely have the best interests of Kenyans at heart—those who voted for you and those who did not? Do you feel the weight of the responsibility that rests on your shoulders?

The Bible teaches us:

"Love your neighbor as yourself."  Matthew 22:39

Love is not merely words. Love listens. Love serves. Love protects. Love seeks the good of others.

I am also reminded of the importance of wisdom. The Bible says:

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Proverbs 9:10

And again:

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." James 1:5

Mr. President, continue to seek God's wisdom. Grace may open doors, but wisdom helps us walk through them well. God may place a person in leadership, but wisdom determines how that leadership impacts people.

As I reflect on recent events and national conversations, I cannot help but think about empathy.

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It is the ability to pause and acknowledge the pain of others, even when solutions are not immediate.

Many Kenyans long to see more empathy from those in power. They want to feel seen. They want to feel heard. They want to know that their struggles matter.

The Bible reminds us:

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."  James 1:19

Those words apply to all of us, but especially to those entrusted with great responsibility.

Mr. President, you are undeniably hardworking. Few would deny your energy, commitment, and visibility. But perhaps the question many Kenyans are asking is not simply whether you are working hard. They are asking whether the work is producing the impact they hope to see in their daily lives.

Sometimes leadership is not about doing more. Sometimes it is about stepping back, reflecting, prioritizing, and doing a few important things exceptionally well.

The book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that life is fleeting. Positions come and go. Seasons change. Power is temporary. Legacy remains.

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

Do you want to be remembered merely as a busy president, or as a leader who listened, united people, sought wisdom, corrected course when necessary, and genuinely improved the lives of millions?

I often think of David in the Bible. David made serious mistakes, yet Scripture describes him as a man after God's own heart because he was willing to humble himself, repent, and return to God.

A humble and contrite heart is never ignored by God.

Mr. President, I believe God allowed you to occupy this office for a reason. I also believe leadership requires continual self-examination.

Are the decisions being made aligned with God's will?

Are the voices around you helping you hear the nation clearly?

Are you surrounding yourself with people who challenge you with truth, or only those who tell you what you want to hear?

One day, titles, power, influence, and politics will fade. What will remain is character, relationships, and the impact made on human lives.

If everything were stripped away tomorrow and you were simply William Ruto the man not the President who would still stand beside you? Who would remember you for kindness, wisdom, integrity, and compassion?

Mr. President, please listen.

Listen to the concerns.

Listen to the questions.

Listen to the criticism.

Listen to the hopes.

Listen to the young people.

Listen to the mothers and fathers struggling to make ends meet.

Listen to the workers.

Listen to the unemployed.

Listen to those who support you.

Listen to those who oppose you.

You do not have to agree with every voice. You do not have to implement every suggestion. But hearing people is part of leadership.

My prayer for you is not merely success. It is wisdom.

May God grant you discernment.

May God grant you humility.

May God grant you courage to do what is right.

May God grant you a listening heart.

And may Kenya be better because you were entrusted with this season of leadership.

God bless Kenya.

MN Collective Insights Unfiltered 

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