President William Ruto has brushed off the United Opposition as a passing cloud with no real power to derail his 2027 re-election bid, accusing its leaders of attacking his government out of “raw jealousy.”
Speaking in Tinderet, Nandi County, on day three of his 11-day North Rift development tour, the President said the opposition had nothing to offer Kenyans beyond slogans.
“I’m ready to stand before Kenyans and show them the work I have done so that they can give me another chance to work. Those others, look for something to do. Too much noise and calling me names will not help you,” he said.
Slogans over solutions
Ruto took particular aim at the opposition’s catchphrases, including “Kasongo Must Go” and the “one term” chant.
“The biggest thing they have done is come up with slogans like Kasongo and to sing to me ‘one term’ and ‘Kasongo Must Go’. Wale watu watakipata,” he said.
He challenged opposition leaders to table real policies on the issues they accuse his administration of neglecting, warning that they would struggle to match him at the ballot without credible alternatives.
The President said the opposition’s irritation stems from the interventions his government has rolled out to ease the cost of living.
He cited: the fertiliser subsidy programme, affordable housing projects, road network expansion, rural electrification, universal health coverage, with 33 million Kenyans registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA)
“That is the genesis of their annoyance. That is where their jealousy begins but I want to tell them your jealousy notwithstanding, Kenya is going to move forward in unity,” he said.
Opposition’s quagmire
Ruto’s remarks come as the opposition, which has vowed to unite behind a single candidate for the August 10, 2027 election, faces mounting scrutiny over its cohesion.
Leaders are yet to agree on a flagbearer, and fears of supremacy battles triggering a major fallout are growing. Several top figures reportedly nurse their own presidential ambitions, fuelling mistrust within the camp.
