Ruto Brands Uhuru as Opposition Sponsor in Fiery Speech
President William Ruto has sharpened his criticism of former leader Uhuru Kenyatta, accusing him of bankrolling opposition efforts aimed at weakening the current administration.
Addressing residents in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, on Thursday, Ruto charged that his predecessor had failed to deliver on key promises during his own tenure and was now actively supporting moves to unseat him. The remarks signal an intensification of political tensions as the country heads toward future electoral contests.
Ruto questioned the former president’s record on major social programmes, asking residents to weigh the alleged sponsor’s past performance. “Mkipima wale watu, ule sponsor wao, alishindwa na maneno ya Affordable Housing? Alishindwa na mambo ya Universal Health Coverage? Alishindwa na maneno ya kusomesha watoto wetu?” he asked. He portrayed the opposition as lacking any coherent vision, insisting that leaders should be judged solely by tangible results rather than empty slogans.
The president further claimed that the former leader was organising proxies to challenge him, vowing to defeat them decisively. “Sasa ameenda kupanga vibaraka wake, anatuma hapa watu kuja kushindana na mimi. Hawa watu nitawaosha asubuhi na mapema. Wale watu, umeskia maono ama sera zao? Wale majamaa hawana mpango, sera, agenda na hata akili,” Ruto stated. He dismissed opposition chants of “one term” and “must go” as foolish distractions, declaring, “Kila kiongozi anapimwa na kazi amefanya. Hakuna mtu atakuja kututapeli hapa ati kasongo, one term, must go, alafu tumpe kazi, hiyo ni ufala bana.”
Highlighting ongoing construction of affordable housing units, markets and hostels, Ruto said these initiatives were generating jobs especially for the youth. He urged young workers on the housing sites to ready themselves for expanded opportunities, expressing a desire to keep the building drive active for two decades so that the country becomes a vast construction site of which citizens can be proud. “Nyinyi vijana, hii kazi ya Affordable Housing mkimaliza, niko na kazi ingine. Anzeni kujipanga. Hii kazi nataka tuendelee kwa miaka 20, tufanye the country iwe construction site, ndo the country iwe nchi ambayo tunaweza kujivunia,” he told them.
The latest broadside comes against a backdrop of claims by some ruling coalition figures that the former president is funding the Linda Mwananchi movement and broader opposition activities. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has rejected those allegations, maintaining that any contact is limited to public encouragement of young people to pursue leadership roles and does not involve financial support. The exchange underscores deepening divisions as both sides position themselves for the political battles ahead.
