Ruto faces multi-pronged hurdles as 2027 beckons

Opposition bigwigs are uniting and have vowed to pull another ‘2002 moment’, in which the Narc unity ended Daniel Moi’s autocratic 24-year rule.

With the entry of former CSs Fred Matiang’i, Mithika Linturi and Justin Muturi into the fold, the team is aiming to confine Ruto to a one-term presidency, a feat the head of state said will not be easy.

The opposition bigwigs have been meeting to show their unity and their growing numbers.

In the group are former DP Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, PLP’s Martha Karua, DAP-K boss Eugene Wamalwa and former Unctad chief Mukhisa Kituyi.

On Sunday, they gathered at Gachagua's Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri county, where they vowed unity of purpose to ensure Ruto serves only one term.

After their meeting on Wednesday, the leaders said theirs is the team that will “liberate” Kenya and ensure Ruto leads for only one term.

Eugene said they need all hands on deck in the pursuit of liberating Kenyans from the “rudderless, corrupt, bloodied and irredeemable Ruto’s government”.

Former Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando, who is affiliated to Karua’s party, said unity of purpose is indispensable to defeat Ruto.

“We're building a coalition that will be overwhelmingly Gen Zs accountability charted-spirited and Gen Zs’ leadership-inclusive. Round 1! One way! One term!” he wrote on X.

Ruto is also feeling the heat from within his broad-based government as Raila Odinga and allies send missed signals.

Siaya Governor James Orengo, Kisumu’s Anyang’ Nyong’o and ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna have publicly criticised Ruto and the administration.

The criticism has been catalysed by the debate on devolution roles and allocations.

Sifuna has publicly and repeatedly said that Ruto will lose in 2027 even with Raila’s support.

The Nairobi senator accuses the President of being an enemy of devolution.

“He has national roads to manage, and even those have overwhelmed him,” Sifuna said.

“So he should leave county roads to the governors as required by the Constitution.”

Despite the critics coming under fire from within ODM, Raila defended the trio.

However, he has also called for the strengthening of devolution and diversion of the NG-CDF kitty and roads maintenance levy to the counties.

National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah has said nothing in defence of devolution.

In fact, every time he rises to speak in the House, he tries to portray governors as the problem with devolution.

“Mark my words: If you engage with these issues, you'll see that this country is in serious trouble,” he said.

Nyong’o, in a hard-hitting statement on April 22, accused Ruto of “sabotaging devolution”.

While the President insists he should be left to manage the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund, Raila and Nyong’o argue the funds should be left to governors.

“The truth is that the Ruto regime has decided to go back to pre-devolution times of the Nyayo era,” Nyong’o wrote.

“The 2010 Constitution is a hindrance to its primitive accumulation schemes.”

Orengo has said he will not join Ruto’s praise choir.

Mid-April, he told ODM supporters in front of Raila and Ruto that they should stand up and fight for their rights.

“I cannot be a praise-singer. We fought for a democratic Constitution, where people should speak freely,” Orengo said. 

“I urge Kenyans to tell their leaders the truth. This country will go to the dogs again if the kind of language we hear continues. If anything is brought to Siaya county, it will be as a matter of right, not as a favour.”

The President and his allies are feeling the heat and have directly addressed the matter.

Senate majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot termed Nyong’o’s statement a “very poor blackmail attempt”.

“It’s quite hard being WSR [Ruto]. ODM members, just like all their other colleagues in the National Assembly, are insistent on retaining the roads levy,” he wrote on X.

“The Senate has stood with the CoG [Council of Governors] on this matter to the best of its abilities albeit with minimum success.

“Then, out of the blues in classic political pietism, the deputy party leader of ODM and governor of Kisumu Anyang Nyong’o emerges, blaming the President.”  

The President has also responded to Sifuna’s criticism, warning him to tread carefully lest he “disciplines” him.

Ruto is also having to deal with his predecessor, President Uhuru Kenyatta, whose recent comments in Uganda triggered harsh responses from top Kenya Kwanza officials.

Uhuru’s Jubilee Party is behind the candidature of Fred Matiang’i.

Party chairman Torome Saitoti was present during the Tuesday meeting, a clear pointer of where the former President stands.

Ruto has also lost favour with the youth, and various interventions meant to assuage the demographic are yet to bear fruit.