Ruto's insults against critics put leadership style under scrutiny

President William Ruto is once again under public scrutiny over insults directed at his critics, with political pundits arguing that his outbursts could be driven by paranoia or fear of a growing opposition wave ahead of the 2027 General Election.

In recent months, the Head of State has engaged in a series of verbal exchanges with opposition leaders, often resorting to expletives instead of sustaining policy debates. While some of his remarks amount to mockery rather than outright insults, Ruto has remained bullish on the campaign trail as he rallies support for a second term in office.

Apart from body-shaming his opponents, words such as “fools”, “brainless” and “empty”, alongside other derogatory descriptions, have become a recurring feature of the President’s speeches against his critics. He has repeatedly questioned their intellectual capacity, prompting pundits to question his leadership style and warn that it could fuel political tensions ahead of the high-stakes polls.

Ruto’s latest publicised political feud is with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, following disagreements over governance and the country’s development priorities. On several occasions, the President has lashed out at Sifuna, labelling him a fool and describing him as a politician without an agenda.

A fortnight ago, Ruto attacked Sifuna and mocked his party, The Equitable Party (TEP), referring to it as “The Empty Party”. He described the senator as a weak competitor who would be unable to sustain a stiff contest against him in 2027.

"Niliona mwingine anaitwa Mr. Empty alienda kulaunch chama inaitwa The Empty Party. Akatoka hapo Moja kwa moja hadi kwa bar. Mara ya mwisho tulimwona na Koffi Olomide na meza imejaa ile pombe kali ya jina mbili mbili sijui Johnny Walker, sijui Jack Natembeya," said President Ruto during a roadside rally in West Pokot on October 14.

"Mtu mwenyewe ni empty, chama ni empty. Alafu anaanza kuitisha wamama shilingi kumi kumi. Hiyo chama imekwama kwa bar. You are insulting our intelligence."

He went on to claim that his administration had transformed the country, urging Kenyans to elect their next leader based on merit rather than popularity.

"Our competitors are selling ethnicity, anger and jealousy to Kenyans...We are unapologetic about our position. What we have as an alternative in Kenya is a useless, clueless and sponsored opposition. We are shocked with the kind of opposition we have, he added.

Ruto’s feud with Sifuna stems from the senator’s criticism of government projects, including the housing levy. Sifuna questioned the President’s Sh24,000 contribution and vowed to scrap the project should the opposition win power in the forthcoming elections.

Political observers argue that Ruto’s words and actions have left little doubt about whom he considers his biggest opponent in the coming elections. They also point to public pressure over the economy, unemployment and the President’s declining popularity as possible factors behind his public outbursts.

“Ruto's insult culture is desperation. When a president resorts to name-calling instead of policy debate, it's not strength, it's fear. It shows you that Sifuna has him rattled,” says political analyst James Malumba.

“He (Ruto) is increasingly in a very difficult position because everything is working against him. That is why when I see him rant during these political rallies, I’m not so disturbed and I’d expect that because he is still human, after all. He should however, realise that there is a sunset to everything and Kenyans have moved on from him and his administration,” he adds.

Leaders allied to the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) have also condemned what they describe as a growing  culture of political insults and disrespect, accusing the government of fuelling divisive rhetoric ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Led by party Secretary-General John Methu during a tour of Kajiado County, the leaders claimed the government was feeling the heat from the opposition and had resorted to personal attacks instead of issue-based politics.

They accused the administration of promoting divisive politics through insults, name-calling and what they termed misplaced anger.

“The President claimed that he would bring development to Kajiado. Is there any road or water connection that has been done here?” posed Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo.

Earlier this year, in March, Ruto and his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, engaged in a war of words, publicly attacking each other over their physical appearance.

The two leaders openly mocked each other's physiques. Gachagua lit the fuse at a United Opposition event in Kiambu, where he drew laughter from the audience after commenting on Ruto's alleged weight loss.

"How much is enough, Mr Ruto? Just how much is enough? Unataka pesa ngapi? Lakini uzuri hata akiwa na hio pesa yote halali. Si mmeona amekonda mpaka maskio imekuja juu?" he asked amid laughter.

The following day, Ruto hit back, criticising opposition leaders over what he described as their gluttony.

"You're claiming that I've cut weight. I'm intelligent enough to know when to cut weight, so that I can concentrate on what I want to do. I'm disciplined enough to know how much to eat, so I can stay alert...." he stated, adding that his competitors were so gluttonous that they could not stay awake during meetings.

"...Go check yourselves in the mirror. Check how you look. Your head is swollen, and your tummy is almost ripping the shirt apart. Tafuteni gym kwanza muende mfanye exercise kidogo. Na mpunguze kukula chakula mingi, ndio muwache kulala kwa mkutano, ata mnaharibu hewa mkiwa mmelala..." he mocked.

“Mtu ambaye mpango hana. Sera hana ajenda hana. Akili hana. Huyo ni mtu wa kuchagua?” Ruto said, referring to the opposition, whom he has repeatedly described as brainless or foolish.

During another rally, he was captured saying: “Wale watu wapumbavu wa mambo ya shares, wa kusema nchi ya Kenya inaendeshwa kwa mapendeleo ama ubaguzi hiyo ni siasa duni ya watu wajinga...wanaona Wakenya ni wajinga sana. Wakikuja hapa watakuja na maneno tatu. Wantam., Kasongo must go. Hiyo ni ujinga si ujinga?”

In February 2025, he also referred to his critics as fools while drumming up support for the controversial nationwide livestock vaccination programme.

“Kuna watu wengine wajinga wanasema tusichanje ng’ombe zetu ndiyo tusipate soko. Si hiyo ni upumbavu,” he said on February 6, 2025.

Ironically, Ruto has also been at the forefront of calls to end the politics of insults.

DCP Party leader Rigathi Gachagua now says the Head of State’s resort to personal attacks exposes his desperation to win back public support ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Ruto is not as smart as many people thought; he is very weak. He goes around insulting Sifuna calling him ‘empty’. This young man speaks good words about the Constitution and the future of Kenya, while Kasongo says children should be shot .Who is empty?” remarks Gachagua.

Former Speaker of the National Assembly Francis Ole Kaparo is also calling for an end to verbal attacks between the President and the opposition.

“I pray that we return dignity and respect in the leadership of Kenya. When you are insulted, you do not have to return the insult. It is possible to reply to an insult with civility. As leaders we should strive to set a better example for the country by minding our utterances and doing what we have promised Kenyans we will do,” says Kaparo.

People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has also criticised Ruto for engaging in verbal exchanges with opposition leaders while Kenyans grapple with rising living costs, strained healthcare services and challenges in the education sector.

In a post shared on her X account on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Karua said the President should prioritise addressing the country’s economic and social challenges instead of trading insults with political opponents.

“William Ruto is busy trading insults with the opposition while Kenyans are battling a healthcare crisis, struggling with an education system under strain and drowning in the cost of living. Insults will not fix hospitals, educate our children neither will it put food on the table.”