Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has assured the people of Central Kenya that his government remains firmly committed to their welfare, insisting that he owes his presidency to their overwhelming support in the 2022 general election.
Speaking Friday when he hosted grassroots leaders from Murang’a county at State House, Ruto dismissed claims that he has drifted away from the region, saying such talk was nothing but “daydreams.”
He said it would be unthinkable for him to abandon the same voters who entrusted him with the presidency.
“Mimi kuwa rais ni kwa kura zenu. Na ndiyo maana mnaketi hapa niwaeleze ile kazi nimefanya nazo. Kuna watu wanajidanganya ati nitawachana na watu wa Murang’a. Hao watu wanaota ndoto ya mchana,” Ruto told the leaders.
(My being President is because of your votes. And that is why you are seated here, so I can tell you about the work I have done with them. There are people deceiving themselves, claiming that I will abandon the people of Murang’a. Those people are daydreaming)
He emphasised that his presidency is being tested on the promises he made to the electorate and that performance would be the ultimate measure of whether Kenyans should continue to trust him.
“Nyinyi si mlinipatia hii kazi na mnataka kujua imefika wapi? Si hapo ndiyo kipimo iko? Nikipita huu mtihani si tunaendelea mbele?” he posed.
(Didn’t you give me this job, and don’t you want to know how far it has gone? Isn’t that the true measure? If I pass this test, don’t we move forward together?)
Ruto highlighted his administration’s investments in agriculture, youth employment, affordable housing, and education funding as proof that he is delivering on his pledges.
He challenged the opposition to present alternative policies rather than focusing on derailing government projects.
“Kama kuna mtu mwingine akuje atuambie agenda yake, mpango yake, sera yake. Ile tumefanya kwa kilimo, akuje atuambie ni nini anaweza kufanya bora zaidi kuliko tumefanya na ni kwa sababu gani hawakufanya wakati walikuwa na nafasi,” he stated.
(If there is someone else, let them come and tell us their agenda, their plan, their policies. Concerning what we have done in agriculture, let them come and explain what they can do better than we have done—and why they failed to do it when they had the chance)
“Ati agenda yao kubwa ni kuzimamisha housing, universal health coverage na funding ya higher education. Si ni upumbavu?”
(Their big agenda is to stop housing, universal health coverage, and funding for higher education. Isn’t that sheer foolishness?)
The President further praised the people of the Mt Kenya region for rising above ethnic divisions during the last election, noting that they helped set a new standard in Kenyan politics.
He accused some unnamed politicians of attempting to revive tribal politics, warning that such attempts would not succeed.
“Kama kuna watu walimaliza ukabila ni watu wa hii mlima. Halafu ati kuna watu wanataka kuturudisha kwa ukabila? Mimi nataka niwaambie watafute dunia ingine. Watafute nchi nyingine, sio hii,” Ruto said firmly.
(If there are people who ended tribalism, it is the people of this mountain. And now there are some who want to drag us back into tribalism? I want to tell them: let them go find another world. Let them look for another country, not this one)
The Murang’a delegation reaffirmed their support for Ruto’s administration, pledging to continue backing his development agenda.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki among other elected leaders attended the event.
His remarks come amid heightened political activity as both government and opposition camps begin positioning themselves ahead of the2027 General Election.
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