Ruto turns South Rift tour into early 2027 political battle
Ruto has used the visit to intensify his assault on the opposition while seeking to consolidate his grip on the region ahead of the 2027 General Election against the backdrop of growing murmurs of discontent in a region that has traditionally been his stronghold and his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
President William Ruto will today, September 12, 2026 wind up his four-day political-cum-development tour of the South Rift, spanning both Bomet and Kericho counties turning what was billed as a development inspection into an early political battle with an increasingly assertive opposition.
The president’s tour of Bomet and Kericho counties, which began on Wednesday, September 9, has combined the commissioning and inspection of infrastructure projects with pointed attacks on his opponents, underscoring the political importance of his Kipsigis backyard as the 2027 General Election draws closer.
Ruto has sought to use his administration’s development record to shore up support in a region where his political dominance has recently been accompanied by murmurs of discontent.
Taking aim at opposition leaders, the president accused them of lacking a coherent agenda for the country and challenged them to explain how they would finance and implement their promises.
“Their agenda is one term, Kasongo. They should find an agenda for Kenyans and not William Ruto. I will shame them for what I have done,” Ruto said.
“These people must find an agenda and a manifesto and tell us how they will implement it and how they will fund it.”
He pointed to ongoing road construction and other infrastructure projects as evidence of his government’s record, asking his opponents: “We are building roads, what is your plan?”
Ruto also questioned the credibility of politicians who, he said, had spent decades in leadership without a tangible record to show for it.
“If someone has been in leadership for 20 or 40 years and has no track record, we cannot risk our country with such people,” he said.
The attacks come as opposition leaders seek to forge a united political front against Ruto ahead of 2027, raising the stakes in traditional political strongholds.
