President William Ruto has exuded confidence he will win a second term despite the heavy criticism facing his government.
Ruto, who was speaking in his backyard of Uasin Gishu, expressed confidence in clinching a second term in office, stating, “I don’t see any competition.”
His powerful message comes amid a barrage of mobilisation following the Gen Z-led protests of June 2024, seeking his ouster. What started as opposition against the controversial Finance Bill 2024 ended up as a clarion call for Ruto’s ouster, with the theme ‘Ruto Must Go’ becoming constant in many gatherings, political or otherwise.
However, in what is out of character for Ruto, he has for the first time spoken of the 2027 polls, amid rising criticism online. “Until now, I'm yet to see any serious competition. Competition is between me and my track record. I haven’t seen any other competition,” he told a crowd in Uasin Gishu on Friday.
Adding, “Many think I have failed because things are taking too long to work, yet I found this country in a very bad state.”
Earlier, one of his strongest supporters, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, tore into Kenyans online who are calling for Ruto’s ouster, stating, “You know those Kenyans online saying Ruto Must Go... I want to tell them whether they jump, they go down, or sideways, Ruto is going nowhere.”
This renewed confidence from the Head of State comes barely two months after what political analysts have termed a political coup after Ruto clinched the goodwill of former President Uhuru Kenyatta in December.
Earlier in August, in another calculated political move, Ruto enticed his biggest political rival, Raila Odinga, resulting in an end of hostilities between the two. Ruto appointed Raila’s men to Cabinet, including John Mbadi to the Treasury, Hassan Joho to Mining, Opiyo Wandayi to Energy, Wycliffe Oparanya to Cooperatives and SMEs, and Beatrice Askul to the EAC docket.
In what looked eerily similar to the Uhuru-Raila handshake of March 2018, Ruto brought Uhuru men into the government.
In the nominations made last December, Ruto appointed Mutahi Kagwe as Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Lee Kinyanjui was appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade, and Industry, and William Kabogo was nominated as Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication, and the Digital Economy.
The other Uhuru ally who is set to make entry into government is Ndiritu Muriithi, the former Governor of Laikipia County, who was appointed as the Chairperson of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Board.
With Uhuru and Raila in his back pocket, Ruto now seems confident of clinching the 2027 polls. In 2022, Ruto overcame Raila who was backed by Uhuru with only 200,000 votes.
At the moment, Azimio co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, and Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah have expressed interest in challenging Ruto.
