Kenya’s 2027 General election is shaping up as a battleground between different contenders determined to oust President William Ruto from the house on the hill.
Nearly three years into his presidency, Mr. Ruto faces mounting headwinds that threaten to derail his administration as the country grapples with economic, political and social pressures.
Discontent, first sparked by protests against the Finance Bill of 2024, has resurfaced amid widespread distrust and anger. This has seen several candidates declare interest to unseat the incumbent.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto has told off the opposition, claiming that Kenyans will not vote for them come 2027 because of their insults.
Speaking during an inspection visit of Galana Kulalu Irrigation Project on Friday, May 16, Mr. Ruto said that Kenyans will make their decision based on the work done and choose the leader they deem fit for the country.
The head of state, noted that he is currently focused on the development of the country for the good of all Kenyans, adding that politics has its time, and when it comes, he will move to politicking.
“Utakuja wakati wa uchaguzi na nyinyi wananchi ni mafundi wa Kura, nyinyi ndio mtajua na siku hiyo hakuna mtu atapata kura kwa sababu alikuwa na matusi mengi. Mtu atapewa kura kwa sababu kuna kazi amefanya na inaonekana na wananchi. Wakati huo tutashughulika na siasa. Wakati huu tushugulikie maendeleo. Katika umoja unapatika maendeleo ya wananchi,” Ruto said.
“There will come an election time and you citizens are the experts of the vote, you are the ones who will know, and on that day no one will get a vote because he had many insults. A person will be voted for because there is work he has done, and it is seen by the citizens. At that time, we will deal with politics. This time, let us deal with development. In unity, the development of the citizens is achieved.”
His remarks come in the wake of increased opposition, with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who launched his party yesterday, accusing the head of state of neglecting the citizenry.
Gachagua recently slammed the Kenya-Kwanza administration's flagship Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), claiming it has become an empty slogan.
In a statement on Monday, May 12, Gachagua stated that President William Ruto's administration has failed in it's pre-election promises- to uplift the lives of the common citizenry.
Gachagua, who made the remarks in a press release announcing his exit from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party, accused the ruling party of betraying the hopes of Kenyans and abandoning the promises that propelled it to power.
"We promised to lift Kenyans from the bottom of the economic pyramid; this was an inclusive economic model that millions of Kenyans believed in. We signed economic charters with all the counties and various professional bodies. It is, however, disturbing that the Kenya Kwanza rogue Administration is still searching for these charters on their dusty shelves." said Gachagua.
The former DP, criticised several government initiatives, including President William Ruto’s Hustler Fund Initiative, which he said had offered little more than tokenism to struggling Kenyans.
"The Hustler Fund: the dream for the Hustler Fund, as it were, was to lift Kenyans at the bottom of the economic pyramid. What business can Kshs. 500 start sustainably?" he quiped.
Gachagua further lamented the deterioration of key sectors central to the party’s economic plan, claiming that agriculture, housing, healthcare, and the digital economy had been turned into avenues of corruption.
On housing, the former DP said the administration had turned the dream of affordable homes into a punitive tax burden on workers, eroding their hard-earned incomes.
Gachagua also criticized the state of the healthcare system, calling it a failed business venture with no commitment to affordable healthcare.
Several candidates including Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Former Cs Fred Matiang’i, Senior Counsel Martha Karua, Former Chief Justice David Maraga, Busia Senator Okiyah Omtatah, among others have all declared interest in the Presidency come 2027.
