The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto to underscore the value of the U.S.-Kenya bilateral relationship and thank him for Kenya’s leadership of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti. The Secretary also reiterated the importance of Kenya’s role in promoting regional peace and security in Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and the DRC.
I read this evaluation of Kenya’s political situation with great interest, and I agree with much of the concern being expressed. As a keen observer of African politics in general and Kenyan politics in particular, I would argue that what we are witnessing is not an isolated national problem, but part of a broader global pattern. The erosion of democratic norms is taking place across regions, and Kenya is not immune to that trend.
In the Kenyan context, the role of money in politics has become increasingly dominant. It is widely understood that it can cost in the range of $200,000 or more to secure a parliamentary seat, a figure that immediately raises questions about accessibility and representation in a country where the average citizen operates on far less. At the same time, Kenyan members of Parliament are among the highest paid in the world when measured against the country’s per capita income. That imbalance creates a political environment where public service risks being overshadowed by personal incentive.
The structure of political competition further complicates the situation. Political parties in Kenya do not consistently organize themselves along clear ideological lines. Instead, they tend to coalesce around charismatic personalities, often shifting alliances based on short-term political calculations rather than long-term policy commitments. The result is a system where politics becomes centered on individuals and resources rather than ideas and national development.
This raises legitimate concerns about integrity within the electoral process. When campaigns are heavily financed and loosely anchored in ideology, the connection between voters and policy outcomes becomes weaker. The system continues to function, but its ability to represent collective interests in a meaningful way becomes increasingly strained.
Given these realities, it is understandable that external actors, including the United States, may consider using economic assistance as leverage to promote democratic reforms. In principle, conditioning support on governance standards can serve as a tool for encouraging accountability and institutional strengthening. However, this approach must be applied with caution and self-awareness.
The challenges Kenya faces are not unique to Africa. Governance strains are evident even in established democracies. In the United States, for example, there are growing concerns about the health of democratic institutions. President Donald Trump has maintained a confrontational stance toward the press, raising questions about the role of a free media. Voting rights have become a contested issue, with debates over access and participation intensifying in recent years. Policies and institutional safeguards designed to address historical inequalities have also been rolled back in ways that many argue weaken structural protections.
This creates a tension that cannot be ignored. It becomes difficult for any nation to position itself as a singular authority on democratic practice when it is simultaneously navigating its own internal challenges. As the United States approaches 250 years of independence, it faces its own questions about the strength and direction of its democratic system.
For that reason, while external pressure can encourage reform, it should not come across as one-sided instruction. The conversation about democracy must be grounded in mutual reflection. Kenya, like many countries, has significant work to do in strengthening its political institutions. But the same can be said, in different ways, about many established democracies.
Ultimately, the issue is not about assigning blame to one region or another. It is about recognising that the challenges of governance, accountability, and democratic integrity are shared, even if they manifest differently across contexts.