Sell your vision, plans or prepare for a beating, Ruto tells Kalonzo and Rigathi

President William Ruto has fired a salvo at his “planless and visionless” opponents, warning them of an impending humiliating defeat at the ballot.

In a fiery attack, Ruto asked his rivals to start marketing their vision, plans and agenda for the country instead of invoking his name in their meetings.

Speaking in Taita Taveta on Friday, the President warned they will suffer defeat in 2027 if they perpetuate the politics of name-calling and tribalism.

“Some people came together claiming to be forming a party yet they spent four hours talking about William Ruto. Four hours?” Ruto posed.

“Did they form a party called William Ruto or does the party belong to William Ruto? Your policies, Ruto. Your plans, Ruto. Your vision, Ruto.”

“I want to tell them, they should create a party and give it its own name, not William Ruto. They should come up with policies, otherwise they will fail,” he said.

Ruto spoke a day after opposition politicians, in a display of unity, fired attacks at him during the relaunch of People’s Liberation Party, formerly Narc Kenya.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka, People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua and DAP-Kenya boss Eugene Wamalwa attended the event.

Others were Jimi Wanjigi (Safina) and a youth representative. They leveraged the attacks to criticise the President and declared a political tsunami in 2027 akin to the Narc wave of 2002 that vanquished Kanu out of power.

Kalonzo promised a big political wave bringing all the opposition team in the next election.

“We are going to unite under an idea and agenda. It cannot just be unity to remove an individual. It is not going to be business as usual today. We are going to do important things from today,” he said.

“It is going to be bigger than 2002, we are going to be an action-oriented unity movement.”

According to the plan, like-minded parties will first strengthen their individual parties then subject themselves to an agreed selection process that would produce one candidate.

“Let us continue strengthening our parties, mobilising our support and at the right time, we will sit down and craft a formula that will liberate this country. All of us should be selfless and do whatever it takes and sacrifice for this country,” Gachagua said.

But Ruto said the leaders have reduced their agenda to name-calling and tribal politics, things he said have lost favour in the country.

“These people who were talking about William Ruto, I have not sent them. That party they are talking about does not belong to William Ruto. These are conmen,” he said.

The President said he is focusing on delivering his administration’s programmes including affordable housing programme, Universal Health Coverage and jobs.

He challenged his competitors to advance alternative plans. Ruto said the leaders are coalescing around tribal blocs “that will collapse”.

“Let them look for policies, plans and vision otherwise they will burn. It is up to them. Tell us your alternative plans. For us, we have affordable housing, UHC and roads. What is your plan?” he posed.

“Let us unite. The county wants transformation. I’m focused on transforming the country. I’m focused on making sure there is equity and equality in all parts of Kenya,” he said.