President William Ruto has urged the opposition to rethink its campaign strategy even as Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka pushed back against his sustained bid to make inroads in Ukambani.
Addressing about 10,000 grassroots leaders drawn from the Ukambani region at the new Kitui State Lodge, the Head of State accused the United Opposition team, led by Mr Musyoka and the Democracy for the Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua, of empty sloganeering.
“In 2022, we cautioned the opposition against spending a lot of time cutting power-sharing deals in hotels. We beat them squarely after they failed to heed our advice. The opposition is repeating the mistakes of 2022. Instead of telling us how you plan to create jobs for the youth, how you will transform agriculture, education, and healthcare, you have engaged in sloganeering. Chanting ‘One term’, ‘Kasongo’, ‘Must Go’ cannot transform Kenya,” President Ruto said on Saturday after he concluded a four-day development tour in Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni counties.
“We have raised the bar of leadership in Kenya. It is no longer about personalities and slogans, but agenda and plans for transforming Kenya.”
President William Ruto during a meeting with grassroots leaders from the Lower Eastern counties of Kitui, Machakos and Makueni at Kitui State Lodge on November 15, 2025.
Photo credit: PCS
His remarks came a day after Mr Musyoka, who has declared interest in the presidency in the 2027 contest, cautioned President Ruto against undermining him.
“Kalonzo Musyoka is not Raila Odinga whose votes were stolen in 2013, 2017, and 2022. I shall pray hard to confuse those planning to steal my votes,” he said in Makueni County.
Mr Musyoka intervened after a section of his allies condemned Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior, Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo and Kilome MP Thaddeus Nzambia for accompanying President Ruto in the development tour on Wednesday and “looking the other way” as the Head of State criticised the opposition.
As the curtain fell on President Ruto’s maiden development tour in the region, Mr Musyoka exuded confidence that it would not affect his grip on the region, which boasts of 1.7 million votes.
President Ruto shrugged this off as the Wiper leader took to social media to poke holes into the tarmacking of the Emali–Ukia Road in Makueni County, which was launched on Wednesday.
“We are currently investing more than Sh110 billion in transformative development projects in Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni counties. Of this, Sh64 billion is dedicated to delivering 44,000 affordable housing units, 15,000-bed student hostels, and 39 fresh produce markets. These initiatives will spur urban renewal, create jobs, and uplift livelihoods. We are also upgrading 600km of roads at a cost of Sh30 billion in the first phase of an ambitious programme to enhance connectivity, boost trade, and open new economic frontiers,” President Ruto said.
President William Ruto (centre, in yellow suit) and Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki with Kamba leaders when the Head of State hosted over 10,000 grassroots leaders from the Lower Eastern counties of Kitui, Machakos and Makueni at Kitui State Lodge on November 15, 2025.
Photo credit: PCS
There was pomp as President Ruto handed 176 keys to new homeowners at the Machakos Town Affordable Housing project on Thursday.
He also launched the construction of a second affordable housing project in the vibrant town, which is set to provide 570 affordable housing units to the market.
The Head of State issued certificates of qualification to workers in the Machakos Town Affordable Housing project under the government’s Recognition of Prior Learning initiative.
President Ruto used the Ukambani development tour to make a strong case for the proposed Infrastructure Fund, a facility he said would enable the country to pool resources to fund infrastructure projects required to develop the country from a third-world to a first-world economy.
“A nation is transformed through deeds and by taking national development to all regions of our country as President Ruto has done,” Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said.
During the tour, Members of Parliament committed to promote President Ruto’s administration. They are MPs Mwengi Mutuse (Kibwezi West), Rachael Nyamai (Kitui South), Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East), Caleb Mutiso (Machakos Town), Joshua Mwalyo (Masinga), Charles Nguna (Mwingi West), Paul Nzengu (Mwingi North), Vincent Musyoka (Mwala) and Fabian Kyule (Kangundo).
