President William Ruto has blasted Kenyans who have opined he has embarked on early, premature campaigns for the 2027 elections in the guise of development tours and uniting the country.
Speaking on Thursday, January 23, 2025, the visibly agitated President refuted the claims, calling for an end to the 'verbal diarrhoea.'
The head of State, who has constantly denied he's campaigning for re-election, told off critics, insisting he's focused on service delivery and will not be distracted by sideshows.
"Kuna wale wanasema tumeanza siasa. Wacheni kuhara mapema…siasa bado. Tukianza si mtakimbia. Ambia hao bado tunapangana na kazi" he said.
" There are individuals who claim we have started campaigning, stop the early verbal diarrhoea, it's not yet campaigns. When we start campaigning you guys might run off. We are still working."
His remarks come in the wake of accusations levelled against him by Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
In a press conference at the Wiper Party headquarters on Wednesday, Kalonzo said that Ruto should be aware by now that citizens are not happy with the unpopular policies that he has come up with.
The wiper leader told the president that he should be aware that Kenya is more united than before, and is ready to get rid of him in the next general election since he had displayed high levels of incompetence in running the country.
" Ruto should desist from moving around the country carrying out early campaigns yet citizens entrusted him with a responsibility which he has now proven that it is beyond his capability. He should be ready to go home in 2027 for failing Kenyans,” said Kalonzo.
Kalonzo said that the President cannot purport to unite the country which is already united in anger against the failure in health and education systems while the economy was dwindling yet the leadership in place was not ready to listen to the plight of citizens.
Additionally, Kalonzo questioned the source of funds used for the sugarcane farmers' bonuses, alleging that the payments were not included in the budget.
“Wait a minute Mr. President, this Ksh150 million for sugarcane farmers, where are you getting this money from? It is not in our budget. That is like a handout or a bribe. If it is a bonus, it has to come through the processes. These are the days of accountability,” Kalonzo stated.
Meanwhile, Ruto criticized the Wiper leader for questioning the source of funds used to pay bonuses to sugarcane farmers in Mumias, Kakamega County.
Speaking in Busia County, President Ruto declared that the funds used for sugarcane farmers' bonuses came from the same source as those for tea and coffee farmers.
The head of state affirmed that sugarcane farmers are also Kenyan citizens and asserted that with proper management, farmers can be paid by their respective companies without government involvement.
“There are some leaders asking why the government has paid bonuses to sugarcane farmers. Is a sugarcane farmer not a Kenyan? They are asking where the president has got the funds to pay the sugarcane farmers. Where do the funds used to pay bonuses for tea and coffee farmers come from?
"Where those funds come from is where the funds for sugarcane farmers also come from. That watermelon guy is questioning that. Is his head okay? I want to tell him that when there’s proper management, farmers will be paid by respective companies and not the government,” President Ruto remarked.
The Head of State, urged residents to continue supporting the government, assuring them of More roads, better health Care and more job opportunities this year, reiterating his pledge a week ago.
Speaking in Uasin Gishu County on Friday, January 10, 2025, during his second day of a development tour in the Rift valley region, the president stated that his leadership has managed to pull the country from the economic crisis the previous administration had left it in.
The Head of State, affirmed that he is focused on service delivery this year, now that the economy of the East African country is stable.
Citing the Stability of the Shilling to the dollar, increased foreign reserves, affordable Housing, Taifa Care, Subsidized Fertilizer and Job Creation, Ruto dismissed sentiments shared by Critics Calling out his administration for it's short comings.
He explained that the delay in fulfilling promises made during campaigns is because of the state in which the Kenya Kwanza administration found the country’s economy.
Ruto insisted that the economy needed to be fixed first and that has already been done.
He added that the country’s economy is now in good standing compared to 2022 when he took charge of the country.
“There are those who think we have delayed in keeping our promises. It is because we found the country’s economy in a bad state and I needed to fix that first." Ruto said.
“And because of the decision we have made in the last two years, that is why inflation that was at 9 % is now at 2.7%. The exchange rate against the dollar was at Sh160 now it is at Sh129, the interest rates were high now they have dropped and I can confidently say that the economy of Kenya is in good standing and we can deal with all other challenges,” the President added.
Ruto admonished Nay-Sayers Politicking while tainting the Government's image, urging them to wait until 2027 then rate his leadership's performance.
“My fellow leaders, let's work together, time for politics will come. There is no need for threats. Empty threats are meaningless. When the time for politics comes, everyone should come up with their own plans.
“I will come here with what I have done in agriculture, universal health coverage, electricity connection, affordable housing and roads. The others should organize themselves and not just be talking here. Up to now, competition is between me and my track record,” he said.