Unapologetic Ruto keeps up attacks on opposition

Kenyans hoping for an apology from President William Ruto’s disturbing remarks against opponents might have to give up after the Head of State defended his recent attacks in what observers term a diversionary tactic to deflect the attention of the public from the teething problems facing the country.

Yesterday, President Ruto defended his personal attacks on members of the opposition while repeating the demeaning remarks as he continued with his Western tour.

In yet another well-scripted response, Ruto unleashed blistering attacks on opposition leaders, appearing determined to continue engaging in an endless war of dirty words with the opposition, maintaining that they started the insults and dirty language.

Speaking during the launch of the construction of the Sh773 million, 15km Matayos-Nangina and Nangina-Sio Port-Mumbaka roads, Ruto fired back at former Interior Cabinet Secretary and Jubilee deputy party leader Fred Matiang’i, telling him to measure his meal portions.

“I have not said you are eating at my place, but if at all you were to eat at my place, I would reduce the portion of the food. The only thing I have told them is to reduce the food they are eating and do some exercises,” said Ruto.

But as he spoke, observers and a section of Kenyans began poking holes in his newest agenda, which has now taken over his so-called development tours.

They believe the President has adopted a diversionary tactic from urgent national concerns that require his urgent intervention, including claims of corruption, reckless expenditure by the office of the president and that of his deputy in disregard of his own austerity measures, issuance of passports and IDs to foreign mercenaries, floods that have left scores dead, among others.

Instead of addressing real issues, the President has adopted a combative tone, coining his agenda around insults. And yesterday, the script was the same as he toured Busia. Insults, ridicule, and little assurance on the country’s economic stability and fortunes.

Advocate William Onyonje claims the perception plays a powerful role in leadership, and believes the theme for politics has been set. “Even if the government is working behind the scenes, what people hear and see matters. If the dominant message is political confrontation, then that becomes the public’s understanding of the administration’s priorities,” he said.

He said Kenya is currently facing pressing challenges that require sustained national attention. Floods have displaced families in several counties, while the education sector continues to grapple with the realities of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBE), including resource gaps and parental concerns.

“When such issues dominate citizens’ daily lives, they expect consistent communication and reassurance from leadership. If that is missing, people begin to question priorities. It’s unfair to attack someone as a president yet we have a lot of issues that need his attention,” said Onyonje.

Onyonje says Kenyans expect the President to address key issues affecting them and are not ready to engage in sideshows.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino also criticised the President’s trajectory, saying he is setting a bad example to upcoming leaders. “If you cannot control your anger, what example are you trying to show? As young leaders, we condemn the conduct and behaviour of the leaders, especially at the presidential level. We don’t expect the President to behave in the way that he behaved yesterday,” he said.

Siaya Governor James Orengo said the President is unfit for office and Kenyans should do everything possible to ensure the country doesn’t have a rogue president and a bandit government. “This time we are warning Kenyans that the time to deal with that rogue presidency is not 2027, but it’s now,” he said.

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi said the President’s utterance border misconduct and is a ground for impeachment.

“We want a president who respects alternative opinion. He took an oath to uphold the Constitution but his utterances in the past few days do not portray a leader who is supposed to be the President,” he said.

Political analyst Barrack Muluka, however, opines that the President’s insults is not a diversion from key issues affecting the nation but its pure blind anger that makes him throw all caution and common decency.

“I don’t think he (Ruto) has sat down with his team and said let us divert from this to that, no, it inbuilds recklessness and its sensitivity,” says Muluka.

He says the President’s office is supposed to be a symbol of national unity and carried with a lot of decorum.

“The President is now being a bad example to the younger generation. He should not be addressing Kenyans with that kind of anger because anger attracts anger. It’s not good,” he said.

In Busia and Kakamega yesterday, the President maintained a defiant tone as he continued with his insults. 

“Yesterday, I told those people that they don’t have any agenda for the education of our people, roads, electricity and creation of jobs for our youth and the only agenda they have is Ruto. I want to tell them I am ready and I will beat them hands down,” said Ruto.

He warned the opposition, claiming he will not sit down and tolerate the insults. “If they continue to direct insults and stubbornness at me, I will also return the same to them in an equal measure,” said Ruto.

Ruto also drummed up support for the broad-based arrangement and working relationship between UDA and ODM, stating that it is the only way to end tribalism, division and hatred.

“We have the broad-based arrangement, and we are working with ODM as UDA to ensure we end tribalism in Kenya, and I am appealing to Kenyans to join the broad-based arrangement,” said Ruto.

 Leaders who accompanied the President, led by Kakamega Governor Fernandes, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives Wycliffe Oparanya, MPs, and other leaders, vowed to rally the people of Western behind Ruto’s re-election bid.

“We are in the broad-based government, and we want our people to stick in that arrangement, especially the ODM-UDA political corporation, and we will ensure all leaders who will be elected will be from a broad-based arrangement,” said Barasa.

Wetang’ula said they will embark on a mission to popularise Ruto’s re-election based on the development the area has received within three years. “There is nothing in opposition besides empty rhetoric. We will ensure the Western belt is behind Ruto in the 2027 polls. We have seen what the President has done; he has delivered more than any other leader who has occupied the Presidency,” said Wetang’ula.

In Busia County, the head of state announced Sh2.5 billion for the construction of modern student hostels.

In Kocholya, Teso North, he opened the KMTC Teso Campus and laid the foundation stone for 340-bed capacity student hostels.

[Report by Benard Lusigi, Mary Imenza and Jackline Inyanji]