National Liberal Party (NLP) leader Augustus Muli/HANDOUTNational Liberal Party (NLP) leader Augustus Muli has criticised what he termed the deliberate underdevelopment of the Ukambani region.
In a statement, Muli accused national leaders of perpetuating poverty politics at the expense of citizens.
He condemned the escalating war of words between President William Ruto and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, saying the two leaders must share responsibility for the region’s stagnation.
“Both have had stints in power. Both must take blame for the deliberate impoverishment of Ukambani,” Muli declared.
The latest political banter was triggered by Ruto’s remarks on Sunday, where he dismissed Kalonzo’s ability to lead the nation, claiming the Wiper boss had failed to even tarmac the road leading to his Tseikuru home.
The comments sparked a fiery exchange between the two leaders, further deepening divisions in a region long plagued by slow development.
And on Tuesday, Ruto dismissed claims by Kalonzo that he was responsible for launching the construction of the Kibwezi - Maua road.
Speaking in Lodwar, Turkana County, Ruto said the project was implemented during the Jubilee administration, when he deputised then President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Ruto said Kalonzo is misleading Kenyans over the ownership of the road project.
“He (Kalonzo) says he is the one who launched the construction of the Kibwezi-Maua road. I want to tell him to go look for fools. There are no fools in Kenya,” Ruto said.
“That road was constructed by Uhuru Kenyatta and I when we took the reins of government, and we have the evidence.”
Reacting to the feud, Muli said the duel between Ruto and
Kalonzo was a distraction from the real issue; the systemic neglect of
Ukambani.
He warned that residents could no longer tolerate being used as pawns in national politics.
“Ukambani can no longer endure deliberate impoverishment by national leaders. We must reject the politics of poverty,” he said.
The NLP leader revealed that his party, alongside other like-minded movements, is crafting a people’s coalition aimed at dismantling what he described as “toxic ideologies” advanced by both Ruto and Kalonzo.
“We are building a coalition that will stand with the people, not against them. Ukambani deserves roads, schools, hospitals, and industries—not endless political insults,” Muli emphasized.
Muli says there is a growing frustration among emerging leaders in Ukambani, who feel the region has been sidelined despite its significant electoral weight.
His call for a coalition could mark the beginning of a new political realignment ahead of the next election cycle.
The NLP leader’s stated that Ukambani’s patience has worn thin, and the region is demanding tangible development rather than rhetorical battles.
