Ruto takes on Uhuru, calls him 'opposition sponsor'

Speaking to residents in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, on Thursday, Ruto claimed that Uhuru had failed to address issues such as affordable housing and universal health coverage during his presidency and had now resorted to supporting efforts to remove him from office.

“Mkipima wale watu, ule sponsor wao, alishindwa na maneno ya Affordable Housing? Alishindwa na mambo ya Universal Health Coverage? Alishindwa na maneno ya kusomesha watoto wetu?” Ruto posed.

“Sasa ameenda kupanga vibaraka wake, anatuma hapa watu kuja kushindana na mimi. Hawa watu nitawaosha asubuhi na mapema. Wale watu, umeskia maono ama sera zao? Wale majamaa hawana mpango, sera, agenda na hata akili.”

Ruto said his administration should be judged by its record, accusing the Opposition of relying on slogans such as “one term” and “must go” without presenting a clear alternative agenda.

“Kila kiongozi anapimwa na kazi amefanya. Hakuna mtu atakuja kututapeli hapa ati kasongo, one term, must go, alafu tumpe kazi, hiyo ni ufala bana,” he stated.

The President pointed to affordable housing construction sites, markets and hostels being built across the country as some of the projects creating employment opportunities, particularly for young people.

He further urged young people working on the affordable housing projects to prepare for more opportunities, saying his administration would seek to continue with the projects if he is re-elected.

“Nyinyi vijana, hii kazi ya Affordable Housing mkimaliza, niko na kazi ingine. Anzeni kujipanga. Hii kazi nataka tuendelee kwa miaka 20, tufanye Kenya iwe construction site, ndo Kenya iwe nchi ambayo tunaweza kujivunia.”

Ruto's remarks come amid recent accusations by a section of Kenya Kwanza leaders that Uhuru is financing the Linda Mwananchi movement and the overall Opposition. 

“Wiki iliyopita wale wakora wa sijui Linda nini walikuwa hapa. Wacha niwaambie, kama kuna drug dealers, washerati, extortionists, wezi na wakora, ni kile kikundi kilikuwa hapa. Nawajua wote. Eti sasa wananunuliwa na yule jamaa mstaafu, eti endeni mkamchafulie jina Rais na kutuambia eti one term...” Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot stated during an empowerment event in Taita Taveta County on July 24, 2026. 

However, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna dismissed the allegations, saying Uhuru's involvement is limited to publicly encouraging young people to take up leadership.

“I speak to him because he's the party leader of Azimio. I do speak to Uhuru, yeah. He does not provide financial assistance, maybe just encouraging us,” Sifuna stated during Citizen TV's Explainer on July 28, 2026.

“When he speaks, and he does it in public, he says young people need to be encouraged to take leadership. You've heard him saying it.”