Kenya's opposition leaders have called out President William Ruto over his handling of the problems facing the country and urged him to emulate President Mwai Kibaki in steering the country forward.

During a memorial lecture in honour of the late President Kibaki, who died in April 2022, impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka praised the former Head of State as Kenya's best leader with an incomparable legacy.

Mr Gachagua was especially vocal, praising Kibaki’s exemplary development record, which he described as a benchmark of sound economic management.

He criticised the current government's approach, calling it a "massive downgrade" from the Kibaki era between 2003 and 2013.

In particular, Mr Gachagua said the government's brutal reaction targeting students and journalists following the controversy surrounding Buteres High School play, Echoes of War, written by former Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala that was meant to be performed at the National Schools Drama and Films Festival in Nakuru.

"As brutal as they were, the colonial government never went for the children. We have a situation where an administration has panicked because its one term has become real. So they have gone berserk and are chasing shadows, including school girls. How fluid is your government if (you think) schoolgirls can bring you down?" Mr Gachagua said in reference to the play that eventually failed to be performed.

The former deputy president highlighted how taxes under President Kibaki's administration were reflected in visible development projects, unlike in the current administration, which he accused of imposing exploitative taxation without corresponding public service delivery.

"Kenyans do not have a problem paying taxes, they only have a problem when they cannot see where the money is going," Mr Gachagua said.

"We want to ask our brothers in government to know that Kenyans are not complaining about over-taxation. They have a problem paying taxes that are misappropriated," he added.

Mr Gachagua recalled visiting the late president in his early days in university to seek funds to help start a business, but was instead handed a book to guide him in his quest.

"I had visited the President, and he asked me what I would like to do in life, and I told him business. I had expected that he would give me money to start off but instead he stood up, checked his bookshelf and handed me a book. That tells you what type of leader he was. He valued quality and economic empowerment, not issuing tokens and waiting for people to clap at him," he said.

He also criticised President Ruto’s government for putting selfish interests first over national well-being.

"It is no secret that everybody who talks about governance always talks about Kibaki. It is because of the economic transformation he did in this country. Kenyans want to feel the growth of the economy. You do not go around telling them about numbers. The main problem we have in the country is that leaders have prioritised their selfish interests. In this government, everybody is doing business, including the National Intelligence Service that has failed in its mandate," Mr Gachagua said.

The lecture underscored the enduring impact of President Kibaki’s leadership and reignited a nationwide conversation about the vision, priorities, and trajectory of the current administration.

His family, led by his daughter Judy Kibaki, said they will be holding the event annually to celebrate the impact that her father had on leadership and to inspire upcoming leaders.

Mr Musyoka said unlike President Ruto, the former president treated leaders with respect even after parting ways.

He recalled that during the referendum in 2005, he was fired by the former President.

"Even after he fired us from his Cabinet, he did not go around our backs saying that we are 'incompetent'. He put in place his government and continued to serve. He was tolerant and always listened to all those who had different opinions. He did not go around asserting that he was the President. That is a self-esteem issue," Mr Musyoka said.

He also praised the Butere Girls students over their unfettered courage during the drama festivals in Nakuru by refusing to perform the play, following claims of frustration.

The second Mwai Kibaki Memorial Lecture brought together political leaders from across the spectrum on April 11, 2025, at the Serena Hotel, in a unified tribute to his enduring legacy.

The event served not only as a solemn occasion to honour the former Head of State but also as a platform for opposition leaders to reflect on and critique the current administration's development agenda in comparison to Kibaki s tenure.

Opposition figures pointed to Kibaki’s presidency for its notable achievements in economic growth, infrastructure development, and education reforms.

In contrast, they expressed concern over what they described as the shortcomings of President Ruto’s administration, particularly in the implementation of universal healthcare and affordable housing programmes.

Among other notable attendees at the memorial were Kibaki-era Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura, Democratic Action Party of Kenya party leader Eugene Wamalwa, former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, Gathoni Wa Muchomba (Githunguri MP), Cate Waruguru (Former Laikipia Women Representative), and Jane Kihara (Naivasha MP).

Former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, a Kibaki Minister and later adviser, said the main reason why the former president's projects were successful was his ability to put ideas into action.

"It is through him that we draw our inspiration in public service. What I learned from Mwai Kibaki is what I have carried along the way in the leadership positions that 1 have held. He focused on ideas. He was not a man of casual talk, he did not like rudderless talks, and even though he was senior, he listened and talked seeking solutions. What stood out is his ability to listen to the emerging issues from discussions and come up with a consensus and solutions," Prof Kibwana said.

Policy adviser Peter Kagwanja said Mr Kibaki trusted him with the role of drafting Kenya's foreign policy that was instrumental in building the country's relationship with neighbours.

On his part, Mr Muturi called upon those serving in public offices to emulate Kibaki's integrity.

"Mr Kibaki was the true emulation of Chapter 6 of the constitution when we talk about integrity of a leader. You cannot compare his leadership to that which we have now where everything that you do, there is always a selfish interest in it. True statesmanship demands that we rise above selfish interests," he said.