Kalonzo: Ruto regime hiding truth on Ebola, punishing Kenyans with Finance Bill 2026

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the opposition coalition led by Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka also rejected the Finance Bill 2026 in its current form and announced plans to field a single, jointly backed candidate in the upcoming Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.

The UAG took aim at what it called a "regime of secrecy and confusion" over the ongoing Ebola controversy, arguing that public uproar was a direct result of the government's failure to communicate effectively.

"Instead of providing timely information, consulting stakeholders, and reassuring the public, this Ruto regime has chosen secrecy, half-truths, and arrogance," the coalition said.

The opposition demanded full disclosure of all agreements, protocols, and commitments linked to Ebola-related programmes and facilities, insisting that any arrangement involving one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases must meet the highest standards of transparency and accountability.

The coalition further pointed to what it described as a painful contradiction in the government's posture — a regime unable to equip public hospitals, guarantee essential medicines, or fix a struggling healthcare system, yet asking Kenyans to extend it blind trust on a matter of national biosecurity.

"Trust is the currency of leadership, and transparency is the foundation upon which that trust is built. This regime has failed both tests," the statement read.

Turning to the Finance Bill 2026, the coalition warned the proposed legislation was evidence the administration had "learnt nothing and forgotten everything" from the June 25, 2024 Gen Z-led uprising that nearly toppled the government.

The UAG accused the Ruto administration of recycling the same fiscal playbook — heavier taxation, expanded borrowing, and shrinking household incomes — without addressing corruption, wasteful expenditure, or inflated procurement contracts.

"A Government that has failed to curb corruption, eliminate waste, and deliver value for public expenditure has no moral authority to demand further sacrifices from citizens already struggling to make ends meet," the statement read.

The coalition maintained that Kenyans were not opposed to contributing to nation-building but were demanding accountability and value for money.

"Kenya does not suffer from a shortage of revenue. Kenya suffers from a shortage of accountability, specifically Ruto's accountability," the statement added.

On the Ol Kalou by-election, the UAG announced a principled agreement to support a single candidate under its coalition banner, to be identified through an independent scientific survey and credible opinion polling to determine the aspirant best placed to secure victory.

The coalition called upon the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), security agencies, and all political actors to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, and transparent election. 

The coalition warned against voter bribery, misuse of public resources, intimidation of voters, and deployment of State machinery to influence the outcome.

"No Kenyan should be forced to choose between conscience and a handout, and no election should be won through intimidation, manipulation, or the purchase of votes," the statement read.

The UAG concluded that the three issues before the nation — the secrecy surrounding Ebola arrangements, the punitive taxation in the Finance Bill 2026, and attempts to undermine democratic choice — all pointed to what it termed a crisis of leadership, accountability, and misplaced priorities.

"No Government can command public confidence while withholding information from the very citizens it serves. No Government can continue taxing its people into poverty while corruption, waste, and impunity remain unchecked. No Government that fears free and fair elections can claim democratic legitimacy," the statement read.