Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi addressing residents of Matungulu, Machakos County on July 9, 2026. 
By Andrew Mbuva.
Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi has called on ODM leader Oburu Odinga to apologise to Kenyans over remarks suggesting that President William Ruto should embrace a "benevolent dictatorship" to implement government policies.
Speaking during a development tour of Matungulu Sub-county on Wednesday alongside Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti, Mwangangi described the proposal as dangerous and inconsistent with Kenya's democratic ideals and constitutional order.
He maintained that Kenya is a social democracy founded on the sovereignty of its people, arguing that no form of dictatorship, however well-intentioned, has a place in the country's governance.
Mwangangi urged Oburu to publicly withdraw the remarks and apologise to Kenyans, saying such sentiments undermine the democratic values that the country has fought to uphold.
The deputy governor further invoked the legacy of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying he spent decades championing constitutionalism, political freedoms and multiparty democracy.
"It cannot be that the brother of a leader who dedicated his life to the struggle for democracy is now advising a democratically elected President to embrace dictatorship," Mwangangi said.
He argued that President Ruto was elected through a democratic process and is therefore obligated to govern within the confines of the Constitution and the rule of law.
Mwangangi also stressed that all government policies and programmes must be implemented through democratic institutions, respect for constitutional principles and the will of the people, rather than through authoritarian approaches.
His remarks come amid growing political debate over the pace of implementation of government policies and the balance between decisive leadership and adherence to democratic governance.
