William Ruto Asks Critics to Let Him Deliver, Says Kenyans Will Decide If He Deserves Another Term
- President William Ruto dismissed early election talk, telling critics to give him space to deliver on development
- Ruto struck a firm tone, asking politicians to prioritise service delivery over endless political bickering ahead of 2027
- The president clarified that his Beijing visit secured a public-private partnership, not debt, to build the long-stalled Rironi-Nakuru-Malaba road
- Ruto said his China trip focused on investment, not borrowing, promising to deliver key infrastructure without adding to Kenya’s debt
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi - President William Ruto has urged his political critics to give him space to execute his development agenda.
Source: Twitter
The president stated that Kenyans will ultimately have the final say on whether he deserves a second term in 2027.
During the Labour Day celebrations held at Uhuru Gardens on Wednesday, May 1, the president struck a defiant yet optimistic tone, defending his government’s performance.
The head of state outlined a number of new policy measures aimed at improving workers' livelihoods.
Turning his attention to the political heat surrounding the 2027 General Election, Ruto had a message for both his supporters and opponents.
He explained that the focus should remain on service delivery for now.
Without mentioning any specific rivals, the president subtly dismissed early politicking and emphasised that leadership should be evaluated based on results, not rhetoric.
"The elections are coming in 2027. And Kenyans will decide on the matter of the 2027 elections. For now, let us all focus on our work, each person where they are employed. When the time comes, there will be a test. In 2027, there will be a test; those who pass the test will continue, and those who fail will go back to farming, and life will move on," he stated.
Did Ruto take more loans in China
The president also used the national platform to defend his recent diplomatic mission to China, which had sparked criticism from opposition figures and some economic analysts.
Ruto dismissed claims that he had travelled to Beijing to secure additional loans, clarifying that his discussions with Chinese authorities centred around attracting investment, not adding to the country's debt burden.
Source: Twitter
He explained that the government had secured an agreement to construct the long-delayed Rironi-Nakuru-Malaba highway, not through borrowing but through a public-private investment model.
"When I went to China, maybe some people thought we had gone to borrow more debt. No. We agreed that we would build the road from Rironi to Nakuru and later to Malaba, but not through loans. No. We will construct that road through investment," Ruto stated.
The project, which had previously stalled due to funding issues, is a critical piece of infrastructure aimed at improving transportation between Nairobi and Kenya’s western corridor.
What did Ruto have for Kenyan workers
Thousands of Kenyan workers gathered at the national celebrations, anxious to hear how the government planned to ease their economic burdens.
Many in attendance were grappling with high taxes, rising costs of living, and stagnant wages.
Despite growing concerns from workers and union leaders about over-taxation and delayed wage reviews, Ruto opted to steer clear of those topics, choosing instead to offer what he termed as structural reforms aimed at increasing workers' take-home pay.
In a significant policy shift, Ruto announced that employers will now be mandated to apply eligible tax relief and exemptions directly during the computation of Pay As You Earn (PAYE).
This change means employees will receive their full tax benefits immediately on their payslips, without having to apply to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for refunds, a move he said would positively impact workers’ net income across the board.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
