Owing to President William Ruto's recent tours of the country, questions abound about whether the Head of State has his eyes fixed on the 2027 General Elections.
The President has in recent times embarked on several development tours across the country during which he launches projects while at the same time explaining his development agenda for the country.
In his tour of Western Kenya and Kisii Nyanza, the president weighed into the 2027 polls with statements that affirmed he will beat his opponents.
While on his recent tour in Kisii, President Ruto said the government has embarked on a program that will see young people from the region get connected to jobs abroad including the US, Germany and Canada.
"Kwanza nyinyi wakisii wengi wenu mnajua kufanya kazi ng’ambo, tumepanga a proper program vile tuhakikisha kwamba vijana wetu tunawaunganisha na nafasi ya ajira ambayo inapatikana Marekani, Ulaya, Ujerumani, Canada," Ruto pledged.
This and other roadside declarations have ignited a debate on whether the President is in campaign mode.
Governance expert Javas Bigambo said once somebody has been elected to office, it is their duty to promise.
Beyond promising, he says, it is their duty to deliver because they have the instrument of power and resources to offer.
"Today, the scales upon which President Ruto is placed by the people of Kenya are by far different from the scales upon which Raila Odinga or any other person in the opposition will be placed," Bigambo said in an interview with the Star.
The scales, Bigambo said, are different because of the issues of instruments of power, access and control of resources that government has.
"What is very critical on the part of the president is to deliver on his manifesto because that is what the electorate trusted and put him in power. Any new promises and commitments should be linked to that manifesto," Bigambo added.
Bigambo, who is also a lawyer, said although Kenyans have not yet moved on from last year’s General Election, there is a need for the president to have firm, committed and focused delivery.
However political analyst Brian Mutie thinks that Ruto is a leader with a personality of making promises and the electorate is yet to understand him.
"Kenyans are yet to understand who is Ruto and grasp Ruto of leadership because they are still comparing him with his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta. Even when he was the Deputy President he made promises," he said.
"He is someone who likes selling his agenda to the people, explaining what he has done and what he intends to and in the same process he might throw in one or two jabs and this might be interpreted as a campaign mood. That is his personality."
Mutie however said Ruto’s biggest undoing is promising a lot more than he can deliver.
"When you listen to some of the promises he made during the campaign period and compare to what he has been able to possibly achieve as of now I may say there is a bit of imbalance," Mutie added.