President Ruto: We want our 2022 votes ‘times two’ in 2027

President William Ruto has said he expects to double the total number of votes he secured in the 2022 General Election when he seeks re-election in 2027, arguing that millions of Kenyans who did not cast ballots last time will support him.

Ruto said the ruling party would mobilise more aggressively and expand its national reach ahead of the next polls.

“Zile kura tulipata wakati ule (2022) tunataka ziwe times two,” he told the grassroots leaders from Nyeri County during a meeting at Sagana State Lodge.

Over 17,000 leaders elected as polling centre officials last week attended.

"Wale hawakupiga na sisi 2022, watapiga nasi 2027 (Those who did not vote with us in 2022 will vote with us in 2027),” he added, insisting UDA would court first-time voters as well as those who stayed away during the last contest.

Ruto received 7,176,141 (50.49 per cent) of the votes, narrowly beating his then rival, the late Raila Odinga, who managed 6,942,930 votes (48.85 per cent) in the 2022 general election.

Elections were held on August 9, 2022, with 22.1 million registered Kenyans eligible to vote. 

The president added that his administration had laid a foundation for political and economic continuity and urged supporters to prepare for an intensified grassroots recruitment drive. 

He said the United Democratic Alliance was being restructured into a mass party capable of prosecuting Kenya’s long-term transformation agenda beyond a single electoral cycle.

“We are building the United Democratic Alliance into a truly national political party,” Ruto said. 

“Through visionary leadership, collaboration and unity of purpose, we are establishing a strong political unit to carry the national agenda forward and provide continuity in our development journey.”

Ruto also defended his performance in office, saying the government had remained faithful to its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda over the last three years. 

He cited ongoing investment in infrastructure, agricultural production, human capital development, healthcare and industrialisation as evidence of a shift toward a more productive and inclusive economy.

According to the Head of State, leadership and development cannot be achieved through “noises, threats, abuses, arrogance or tribalism” but through humility, hard work and cooperation across communities. 

He urged supporters to embrace political organisation rather than confrontation.

The Sagana event came amid renewed internal manoeuvres within UDA as the ruling party embarks on nationwide grassroots elections and prepares for coalition negotiations ahead of 2027. 

While Ruto did not directly reference ongoing tensions, the mobilisation push has been interpreted by analysts as part of a broader effort to consolidate control of party structures and re-energise UDA’s base.

Analysts say the president’s “times two” vote projection reflects confidence in his re-election prospects but also acknowledges the high number of eligible voters who either abstained or were not registered in 2022. 

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) recorded millions of registered voters who did not turn out during the last election, while a new cohort of youth voters is expected to be added to the roll before 2027.

Ruto urged grassroots officials to spearhead voter registration efforts and enhance party presence at polling centres, saying the 2027 race would require early preparation and disciplined organisation.