President William Ruto has warned his critics to brace for a campaign like no other ahead of 2027 election.
The President has lately come under attack for engaging in early campaigns during his weeklong Western tour.
“There are people complaining that I have already started campaigns, let them hold their horses, it is not yet time. When we will finally hit the campaign trail, they will take off,” Ruto said in Bumala, Busia county, on Friday.
Ruto, who concluded the tour on Friday, has been launching projects in the region, even as he preaches national unity.
The President also announced Sh150 million bonuses payout to cane farmers during his visit to Mumias Sugar Company on Tuesday.
Critics have said the head of state of doing little to deliver to Kenyans, with most of his energy channelled to early campaigns and pledges.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Wednesday faulted the President for embarking on premature 2027 campaigns disguised as a unity drive.
“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,” he said.
The former vice president was speaking at Wiper headquarters after chairing the party’s National Executive Council meeting.
Accompanying the President during his tour of both Busia and Bungoma counties were National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Busia Governor Paul Otuoma and a host of leaders from the region.
Cooperative CS Wycliffe Oparanya was also present.
Mudavadi said it will be near impossible to unseat Ruto who is enjoying the backing of opposition chief Raila Odinga and leaders from Western.
“Recently ANC merged with UDA…Raila is also backing Ruto and now the former Prime Minister is headed to Africa Union, surely is there any other chance of sending Ruto home?”
Oparanya said it would be foolhardy for anyone to think that Ruto would be a one-term president with all the backing from the broad-based government.
The former Kakamega governor also refuted claims of premature politics, terming the Western tour a development trip that was long overdue.
“All these (developments) cannot be reduced to politics, some people sitting in Nairobi are claiming it is all politics, it can’t be,” Oparanya said.
The President also sustained his attack on his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, saying he could not deliver because of his obsession with divisive tribal politics.
The head of state maintained he would not back down on his resolve to unite the country.
“Raila (Odinga) and I have agreed
that divisive politics, hatred, discrimination must come to an end,”
Ruto said.
“Those who don’t believe in a
united Kenya, the self-seekers, the
corrupt, will not get a place in this
nation of Kenya.”
