Foul or fair play? Ruto goes hard on opponents as he unveils new UDA slogan in Rift tour

By  Nation Team

Nation Media Group

President William Ruto has turned his North Rift tour this week into a platform to intensify his political attacks on opponents, dismissing what he calls ethnic alliances as a route to power and challenging the opposition to present an alternative agenda.

From Nandi to Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo, the President has combined sharp political rhetoric with a defence of his administration’s development record, seeking to frame the next election as a contest between his government’s economic transformation agenda and what he portrays as an opposition without clear policies.

His strongest attacks have targeted opposition leaders seeking to unite ahead of the 2027 election, saying they cannot win on the strength of ethnic alliances alone.

Speaking in Kinyach, Baringo North on Tuesday, the President warned that uniting against him would not be enough to secure victory without a clear development agenda.

“They are now regrouping in the name of unity, but even if they unite and have no agenda, tribal arithmetic will not win them anything. Have an agenda and a programme through which Kenyans can see themselves in the transformation,” Dr Ruto said during his tour of Kinyach in Baringo North.

He challenged his opponents to present manifestos and programmes against which voters could measure their performance, insisting that the next election should be decided by development commitments rather than ethnicity, hatred and exclusion.

“In 2027, we will vote to completely root out divisive and tribal politics. We are not going to vote based on ethnicity, hate, jealousy, exclusion or marginalisation, but on an agenda, a plan and a manifesto through which Kenyans can hold their leaders to account,” he said.

The President accused his opponents of lacking a credible alternative to his administration’s development plans.

“We have a plan and a delivery strategy for Kenyans, unlike our opponents, who are agenda-less. They have no manifesto, policy or ideas for Kenyans,” he said, in remarks that defend his record while challenging rivals to explain what they would do differently if elected.

‘Usawa ni Sawa’ political messaging

Alongside his attacks on the opposition, President Ruto is also placing equitable development at the centre of his re-election message, unveiling a new political rallying call as he challenges the opposition to present an alternative agenda ahead of the 2027 General Election.

On the first two days of his 10-day tour programme of the North Rift, the President has promoted “Usawa ni Sawa” (equality is good), defended his administration’s flagship projects against criticism and urged supporters to help him secure another term.

The slogan adds an equality-themed message to the President’s political campaign, as he seeks to present his government’s investment across regions as part of a broader national transformation agenda and as evidence that public development is reaching different parts of the country, citing roads, electricity connectivity, housing, education and healthcare.

In Kapyego and Chebara in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Tuesday, Dr Ruto led United Democratic Alliance (UDA) supporters in a call-and-response chant that appeared to introduce the slogan as a new rallying call for the ruling party.

“When I say UDA, you reply, ‘Usawa ni Sawa’. When I say ‘Usawa ni Sawa’, you reply, ‘Mbele Pamoja’,” he told the crowd.

On Monday, some supporters at the President’s stopover in Kaptumo, Nandi County, also wore UDA-branded caps and T-shirts bearing the new slogan, pointing to efforts to popularise the message among supporters.

The emphasis on equality comes as the President seeks to defend his administration’s development record while challenging opposition leaders exploring political alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.

Dr Ruto has also made his re-election ambitions explicit, appealing directly to residents to give him more votes in the region.

“I need an additional one million votes in this region. Presidency is won by votes and I need your support to secure another term to serve you,” he said.

He urged eligible residents to obtain national identity cards and register as voters, highlighting voter mobilisation as another priority ahead of the next election.

President defends housing levy

The President has used the tour to defend his flagship Affordable Housing Programme, pushing back against critics of the housing levy and arguing that the initiative is creating jobs while expanding access to decent homes.

“It is unfortunate that my critics, including a senator, want to stop the housing levy and the construction of affordable houses, yet he contributes Sh24,000 monthly to the fund. These are people paid with taxpayers’ money but who do not want ordinary Kenyans to have decent houses,” he said.

Dr Ruto claimed the housing programme had created one million jobs, presenting it as part of his administration’s broader economic transformation agenda.

In Elgeyo Marakwet, he said Sh15 billion had been set aside for housing and related projects, including more than 3,000 housing units and student accommodation facilities.

He also cited Sh18 billion for 270 kilometres of roads and Sh1.6 billion to connect more than 10,000 households to electricity.

In Baringo, the President said Sh22 billion had been set aside for 350 kilometres of roads, while Sh2 billion would support last-mile electricity connections targeting an additional 25,000 households.

He highlighted the Sh4.5 billion, 55-kilometre Kipsaraman-Kinyach road, which is expected to connect with Kapsowar and improve trade and security in parts of the banditry-affected Kerio Valley.

He also pledged to revive the Kabartonjo-Barwessa and Barwessa-Kinyach-Kolowa roads, among other projects. Nationally significant road projects he said were ongoing included Isiolo-Mandera, Mau Summit-Rironi, Eldoret-Malaba and Kisumu-Kericho.

Health, education and agriculture

Dr Ruto also cited investments in healthcare, education and agriculture to reinforce his claim that the government was delivering on its commitments.

In Elgeyo Marakwet, he said 365,000 people had registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA), with Sh1.2 billion being channelled to health facilities.

In Baringo, he put SHA registration at 410,000 people, equivalent to 61 per cent of the county’s population, and said facilities had received more than Sh1.5 billion over the preceding eight months. Nationally, he said more than 33 million people had registered and health facilities had received more than Sh200 billion.

On education, the President said his administration had hired more than 100,000 teachers since 2022 and planned to recruit another 20,000 in December. He also cited Sh784 billion allocated to free education.

In agriculture, he urged farmers to take advantage of forecast El Niño rains by planting short-season crops. He said fertiliser was available at Sh2,000, while the price of maize seed had fallen from Sh1,000 to Sh500.

In Chebara, Elgeyo Marakwet, the President highlighted schools, a polytechnic, a church, a cattle dip and other social amenities among projects intended to benefit communities around Chebara Dam, which supplies water to Eldoret. He said he had settled Sh500 million in outstanding bills, allowing the projects to be completed.

Reporting by BARNABAS BII, FLORAH KOECH, EZRA NANJENDO and EMMANUEL ASHINDU

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