Willis Otieno castigates Ruto over admission that he micromanages his staff
Constitution lawyer and Safina Party Deputy Party leader Willis Otieno has scoffed at President William Ruto for admitting he is micromanaging his staff.
This comes after Ruto said he has to closely monitor his team because some are not taking the initiative.
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In an X post on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, Otieno said true leadership is about building people, not controlling them.
“A real leader inspires capacity; he doesn’t babysit incompetence. If you must micromanage everyone around you, it means two things: you hired cowards or clones, not thinkers,” the statement read in part.
According to him, Ruto should empower his team and trust them to deliver, not run everything himself. He warned that micromanagement creates fear and slows down progress.
“Micromanagement is the insecurity of a man who fears delegation because he thrives only in chaos,” the statement read.
However, the Head of State defended his leadership style following growing criticism that he frequently micromanages senior government officials and appointees.
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Speaking at State House, Nairobi, on Monday, October 6, 2025, during the launch of retired Major Marsden Madoka’s autobiography, Ruto dismissed claims that he stifles the independence of his Cabinet appointees and principal secretaries.
He said 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.
Ruto on being intentional
Ruto 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 leadership 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.
