President William Ruto has warned the opposition that his broad-based political alliance is ready for a tough contest in the 2027 general election.
Speaking to residents in Muhoroni, Kisumu County, on Monday, Ruto challenged opposition leaders to present clear policies and development plans rather than rely on personalities, slogans and political rhetoric.
The president was speaking on the second day of a four-day development tour of the Nyanza region.
He said the 2027 election should focus on competing ideas and programmes for improving the lives of Kenyans.
“My friends, this election, we have raised the bar of the contest of leadership in Kenya,” Ruto said.
“It is not about personalities. It is about the people of Kenya. It is not about empty rhetoric, slogans and titles. It is about an agenda, a plan, a mechanism of changing the lives of the people of Kenya.”
Ruto said the broad-based political team was prepared to defend its record and compete with its opponents on policy.
“As broad-based, we are ready. We have our ideas. We have our plan. We have an agenda. We have a programme. We have a vision,” he said.
He challenged his political rivals to present alternative proposals instead of focusing on calls for a one-term presidency.
“We want to invite our counterparts, our colleagues, kujeni na agenda yenu [come with your agenda],” he said.
“Msituambie mambo ya one-term. Msituambie mambo ya sijui kasongo. Tafuteni sera, my friends [Do not tell us about one-term or slogans. Look for policies].
Ruto issued a further warning to the opposition, saying it should focus on policies if it wanted to compete effectively.
“One-term tumesikia. Matusi tumesikia. Fitina tumesikia. Tafuteni sera tushindane,” he said.
“Kama hamna sera, tutawamalizia asubuhi na mapema, my friends [If you have no policies, we will defeat you early].”
The president also urged voters to assess political leaders on their performance rather than their appearance, ethnicity or political rhetoric.
“When you choose a leader, do you measure them by their work or by their appearance?” he asked.
“By their work or by their tribe? By their work or by intrigue? By their work or by noise?”
Ruto also defended his administration’s record, citing projects in roads, affordable housing and agriculture.
He said some of his political opponents had dismissed the government’s development programmes.
His remarks came as he continued his four-day tour of Nyanza, which began in Kisumu on Sunday.
The tour covers Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori counties and includes the launch and inspection of development projects as well as public engagements.
Nyanza is considered an important region in Kenya’s political landscape, and the president’s visit comes as political parties and alliances position themselves ahead of the 2027 election.
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