Ruto opens four-day Gusii tour with jibes at ‘divided’ opposition

President William Ruto on Sunday took aim at the opposition over its apparent mounting internal wrangles, declaring that his prediction that their unity would crumble long before the 2027 General Election was already coming true.

Amused by the opposition’s increasingly public disagreements, the President said the infighting was evidence that its leaders lacked a coherent agenda for serving Kenyans.

Addressing residents at various stops in Nyamira County, Dr Ruto expressed confidence that he would defeat the opposition, citing his development record against what he described as a disintegrating and rudderless political outfit.

Nyamira is the political backyard of Jubilee presidential aspirant Dr Fred Matiang’i, one of the leading figures in the United Opposition.

While some local leaders accompanying President Ruto in Gusii threw their weight behind him after last week’s public spat with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Dr Matiang’i was in Nanyuki, where he reiterated that the opposition would remain united in its bid to win the election next year.

“Let not those guys worry you. I will deal with them properly. To begin with, they are divided even before starting their journey. They are quarrelling with each other. You know the problem with lacking a plan is that people start fighting among themselves. They have no plan, agenda, policies or vision. They are clueless,” President Ruto said.

He added: “Those people do not know how roads will be built, housing developed or health insurance provided. They have no plan; they are clueless about our present, planless about tomorrow and lack a vision for our future.”

The President accused the opposition of being preoccupied with criticising his administration, resorting to name-calling, and spreading hatred rather than presenting alternative policies.

“Don’t you want your lives to change? A better economy? Good roads that will help lower transport costs? Good health insurance to make treatment affordable? Don’t you want us to plan for education?” President Ruto asked, urging residents to rally behind his development agenda.

He cautioned Nyamira residents against gambling with their political future by supporting an opposition he portrayed as lacking direction, insisting that they stood a better chance under his administration.

“That is why I am telling you, the great people of Nyamira, let us not gamble with the destiny of our nation to people who are clueless about our present, planless about our tomorrow and visionless about the future of our nation. We have a responsibility for the nation of Kenya; it is the people who will decide how Kenya will go.”

The Head of State is on a four-day tour of Gusii, running from Sunday to Wednesday, as he seeks to consolidate support in the region ahead of his bid for re-election.

Dr Ruto further argued that political leaders and those aspiring to public office should be judged on their performance and the ideas they offer voters, rather than rhetoric and political theatrics.

“Kenya is a progressive nation and all leaders and those aspiring to office must explain their track record, and present their plan and agenda to the people. There is no room for shortcuts and deception to leadership,” he said.

The President is using the visit to launch and inspect infrastural projects, in a political charm offensive aimed at convincing Gusii residents to support his re-election bid in the next General Election.

On Sunday, his programme began with an inter-denominational church service at Nyamaiya grounds before he addressed residents at Nyabite on his way to Nyamira town, where he officially opened the West Mugirango Constituency Digital Hub.

He subsequently launched the upgrading of the Bondeni-Magombo road to bitumen standard and flagged off the last-mile electricity connectivity project in the constituency. The President also launched the Tombe-Isinta-Mokomoni road in North Mugirango.

On arrival, Dr Ruto was received by the two Gusii governors, Amos Nyaribo (Nyamira) and Simba Arati (Kisii), alongside National Assembly Majority Chief Whip Silvanus Osoro, United Democratic Alliance National Treasurer Japheth Nyakundi, Chairman of the Gusii MPs Caucus Joash Nyamoko and West Mugirango MP Stephen Mogaka, among other leaders.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and Broadcasting Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke were also present.

The President’s tour comes against the backdrop of deepening divisions within the United Opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election, with disagreements reportedly centred on the choice of a joint presidential flagbearer, regional interests and political strategy.

The coalition’s co-principals have differed over how and when to settle on a common presidential candidate, exposing cracks in an alliance that had presented itself as a formidable alternative to Dr Ruto’s administration.

Dr Matiang’i, Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi and other opposition officials have publicly accused Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua of political bullying and placing personal or regional interests ahead of the coalition’s collective ambitions.

Critics argue that Mr Gachagua’s alleged combative approach, coupled with what they describe as an overreliance on ethnic arithmetic and tribal mobilisation, has fuelled mistrust among coalition partners.

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