From swelling opposition to dwindling numbers: Why Ruto is facing tough political battle

In what could be either panic or political intolerance, President William Ruto dashed to Kakamega yesterday to launch a Sacco, when his united opposition rivals were scheduled to hold a mega rally in the town. 

Having been away in Europe since last week, the president jetted back and barely 24 hours later went to launch the Sacco, making it difficult for the opposition to have their meeting because hundreds of heavily armed General Service Unit Police officers had barricaded the town.

Political pundits think the president's plan was to stop the opposition from having their day in the sun in a region that could prove crucial in determining who becomes the next president in the 2027 polls.

The blockaded opposition rally was scheduled to take place just 500 meters from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), where Ruto was launching the Shirikiana Sacco.

This came as the president criticised his opponents for allegedly wasting Kenyan's time by engaging in what he described as meaningless roadside rallies in markets, burial ceremonies, and church attendances.

Without directly naming his political adversaries, President Ruto took sharp aim at leaders who he said have spent their time traversing the country to spread negativity rather than offering alternative, viable solutions to the economic challenges facing Kenyans.

"Some of them move from market to market, church to church, and even to funerals, making noise and telling Kenyans that nothing is happening," Ruto said.

The Opposition had scheduled a three-day tour of the region, while President Ruto was expected to attend the G7 Summit meeting in France from June 15th  to 17th of this month.

The writing had been on the wall. By 7:00 a.m, a combined team of General Service Unit (GSU) and regular police officers had already taken strategic positions along the Kakamega-Mumias road.

Two police lorries were stationed just a few meters outside the town centre, while a second batch of officers erected a roadblock four kilometres away at the Ikonyero junction, completely sealing off access to the town.

The security lockdown was designed to intercept the opposition leaders who were travelling from Mumias East.

They had planned to have breakfast at the home of Mumias East MP Peter Salasya before making their way into town for the first leg of their regional tour across Kakamega, Busia, and Bungoma counties.

The opposition brigade was forced to redirect its itinerary. They held a press conference at Shianda, the rural home of MP Salasya, where they launched a scathing attack on President Ruto's administration, accusing him of using state machinery to intimidate critics.

Former Deputy President and DCP Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua led the onslaught, stating that the use of police force would not help the President regain public trust.

"We were to go to Kakamega town for a political rally, but President Ruto, because of his dwindling popularity, decided to deploy GSU along the road to block us from addressing people," Gachagua said.

Using a vivid, proverbial analogy to describe the public resistance against the current administration, Gachagua added:

"I don't want to sound nasty, but it is a reality. I want to tell Ruto that you cannot cure diarrhoea by stitching the anus. If you want to address the problems Kenyans are facing, confront the issues. Blocking us from accessing Kakamega town by deploying the GSU won't help or change anything. In fact, it has made things worse because people are now chanting 'One-term'."

Gachagua urged the Western region to reject what he termed as "season two" of Ruto's deception, claiming the President had failed to honour the 2022 pre-election power-sharing pact signed with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.

"Ruto has taken the Luhya people for granted for a long time. He signed a pact with Mudavadi and Wetang’ula that he was going to complete all stalled projects and construct 1,000 kilometres of bitumen roads. Sugarcane farming is the backbone of the Western economy, but Ruto lied to the people of Mulembe that he was going to revive the struggling sugar factories. Instead, he bought all the factories through his Indian proxies," said Gachagua.

He also turned his guns on Mudavadi and Wetang'ula, accusing them of prioritising their personal interests.

"The only clause that Ruto fulfilled in the pact was to appoint Mudavadi as Prime Cabinet Secretary and Wetang’ula as National Assembly Speaker. This is because they pushed for it knowing it was for their selfish gain and that of their families, not the entire community. MP Salasya is better than Mudavadi and Wetang’ula combined, because they cannot fight for their community, only for their own stomachs."

Gachagua vowed to mobilise his community and partner with other regions to field a single presidential candidate in the next general election to ensure Ruto becomes a one-term president.

Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka focused his criticism on the country's economic direction and the newly presented 2026/2027 budget estimates, arguing that the country is ripe for leadership change.

"Day by day, Kenya as a country is going in the wrong direction. We have seen Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi flip-flopping and looking uncomfortable when we poked holes into the budget estimates. The budget does not address the problems the education sector is facing. Capitation to our schools is delayed, student allocations have been reduced, and this is contributing to unrest in schools because school heads are unable to run the institutions," said Kalonzo.

Kalonzo also questioned the government’s plan to borrow Sh1.1 trillion.

"When we take over the leadership of this country, we are going to cut that Sh1.1 trillion to Sh500 billion to run the country comfortably without over-borrowing. We can get money from the failed Social Health Authority (SHA) where we are paying foreigners almost Sh104 billion every month. This is the money that is being wasted and stolen."

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya accused the Head of State of running an administration that lives well beyond its means while ignoring local issues.

"Ruto calls opposition leaders fools who have no agenda, but in the real sense, he is the one who is a fool. He is leading a country that is living beyond its means by over-borrowing. Being a fool is when a President is over-borrowing to travel daily outside the country, and yet nothing is moving. As the United Opposition, we are determined to vote out this government," said Natembeya.

Natembeya also slammed local Western Kenya lawmakers for falling victim to "divide and rule" tactics.

"We have over 30 MPs from Western who are Ruto’s praise and worship team, and they have forgotten the problems facing their people. They are compromised, but I want to tell them we have the backing of the citizens, and this community is going to be united to ensure Ruto is out of power."

Host MP Peter Salasya vowed to mobilise the youth against the Finance Bill and the budget.

"Ruto is overburdening Kenyans with a punitive budget and finance bill. I vow to oppose it and ensure I rally the youth behind the United Opposition to defeat him," Salasya said.

Despite the early morning blockade, the opposition leaders later managed to address a crowd at the Shianda Market in Mumias East before hitting the road for their scheduled stopovers in Busia and Bungoma towns.

As the leaders spoke, President Ruto, who was having a different meeting, launched scathing attacks on his critics and claimed they had nothing to offer to Kenyans.

Speaking during the launch of Shirikiano Sacco at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), the Head of State accused opposition figures of orchestrating a campaign of empty political rhetoric while deliberately ignoring a massive wave of state-backed infrastructural, agricultural, and educational transformations.

He listed investments across healthcare, roads, education, housing, and the long-suffering sugar sector, positioning them as undeniable evidence of the national government's commitment to the region.

"At first, they said what we were proposing was impossible. They called me a liar. Today, the projects are there for everyone to see."

In a passionate show of solidarity, President Ruto firmly defended Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, who have recently faced intense criticism and insults from opposition politicians targeting the region. 

Ruto commended the two leaders for their steadfastness, statecraft, and commitment to national unity, urging residents to protect and respect their top leaders against political disparagement.

"I have on several occasions seen my brothers Musalia and Wetangula being attacked by opposition that they are doing nothing, shame on them," said Ruto.

Ruto said those criticising his administration have little to show from their years in public service despite having held senior government positions.

The President threw down the gauntlet to his rivals,  challenging them to suspend their political rallies and conduct an objective fact-finding tour of Western Kenya to witness the extensive construction and expansion projects currently underway.

"Let them come and see the transformation taking place in this region. Let them see the Level Six Hospital in Kakamega, the new Sh8 billion Level Six Hospital in Bungoma, and the stadium projects in Kakamega, Busia and Vihiga. These are not promises; these are projects that are already underway," he said.

Ruto urged the electorate to reject the politics of division, ethnicity, and slogans, advising them instead to hold political leaders accountable based purely on their development track records.

"As leaders, we will continue focusing on development and service delivery. The people of Western Kenya can see the progress being made, and we will continue working to ensure that more opportunities reach every part of this region," Ruto said.