Willis Otieno compares Kibaki’s genius to Ruto’s degree brag
By Ascah Mwango, September 12, 2025Lawyer and political commentator Willis Otieno has criticised President William Ruto after the Head of State declared himself the most educated president in Kenya’s history.
Otieno took to his X account on Friday, September 12, where he drew comparisons with former President Mwai Kibaki. He said Kibaki never showed off his academic achievements despite being an outstanding scholar at Makerere University and the London School of Economics.
According to Otieno, Kibaki’s legacy was built on his work and leadership, not on constant reminders of his education.
Otieno dismissed the remarks as empty chest thumping, arguing that Kenyans are not feeling the wisdom of Ruto’s education but rather the weight of his taxes. He said leadership should be measured by results and the impact of policies on citizens, not by the number of degrees one holds.
“Kibaki never for a single day paraded his degrees, never mind that he was the best student in every school he ever attended, from Makerere to the London School of Economics. His work spoke louder than his papers,” Otieno stated.
Adding;
“Now we have William Ruto, who boasts of being the “most learned president.” Yet no one can see the wisdom in his policies, only the pain of his taxes.”
He contrasted this with President Ruto, who, on Thursday, September 11, 2025, during a meeting with the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) at State House, Nairobi, told Kenyans that he was probably the most learned president the country has ever elected. Ruto said he had studied well and had no excuse not to deliver on his promises.
Watch: Ruto says he’s the most learned president Kenyans have ever elected
The President told the gathering that some people had advised him to delay some of his reforms, such as affordable housing, the Social Health Authority, and changes in the education sector.
He insisted that Kenya could not afford to wait, pointing out that countries like Korea and Singapore had already moved far ahead.
“I have studied, and I have studied well. I am probably the most learned president Kenya has ever elected. So who am I waiting for? I have no excuse. Some people tell me education reforms are difficult, affordable housing is difficult, and SHA is difficult; maybe you should wait for another term. Do we have time to wait? Korea left us long ago, Singapore left us long ago. We don’t have time,” Ruto said.