A political storm is brewing after President William Ruto declared that he would not hand over power to individuals who, in his view, lack a clear development agenda for the country.
Speaking on Sunday, June 15, President Ruto took aim at the opposition, accusing them of offering empty rhetoric without concrete solutions for Kenya’s pressing challenges.
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“Those other people have no plan, and we cannot hand over to people who have no plan. Their plan is ‘Ruto Must Go’ — how will that help?” he posed during a public address.
Ruto criticized the opposition for what he described as failure to outline strategies for tackling issues such as unemployment, agricultural productivity, and access to education.
“They have no idea how the youth will get employment; they have no idea how agriculture will progress or how children will access education,” he added.
The President’s remarks triggered a swift and pointed response from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who cited constitutional provisions on presidential transition.
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Gachagua reminded Ruto that the assumption of office does not rely on the outgoing president’s approval.
“I have heard Ruto claim that if he loses, he will not hand over to people who don’t have plans; he has done well to acknowledge that he is going to lose,” Gachagua said in a statement.
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“There is no provision for handing over in the Kenyan constitution; what there is, is an assumption of office. The newly elected president will not need you to assume office.”
Tensions between Ruto and Gachagua have been growing, with public disagreements surfacing as early as January this year.
While speaking in Kakamega County on January 20, President Ruto appeared to hit out at Gachagua, criticizing leaders who promote tribalism and division for political gain.
“There are people trying to compete with us, but you like mischief, tribalism, and government shareholding. Who will you compete with in this country? You can’t thrive on hate, tribalism, and dividing people. That’s stupidity,” Ruto remarked.
The back-and-forth signals deepening cracks within Kenya’s political landscape as the country edges closer to the 2027 General Election, with both former allies now seemingly on opposing trajectories.
