'Bring your track record': Ruto dares rivals ahead of 2027, says he's ready for ‘exam’ on leadership

President William Ruto/PCS

President William Ruto has boldly declared he is ready for the ‘exam’ on his leadership, daring other leaders to match their words with a track record.

Speaking at an Iftar dinner at State House, Mombasa, on Friday, Ruto told Muslim leaders and government officials that those who seek to divide the nation will not succeed.

“And let me assure you that those who believe in division, those who believe in exclusion, the ethnic chiefs, they will not succeed in this country. And they cannot divide this nation,” he said.

The President emphasised that leaders will be measured by their achievements and plans to improve the country, rather than by complaints about national challenges.

“Every leader and leadership in Kenya is going to be measured by your track record and your plan on how you are going to make this country better, not on how you tell us about the challenges of our nation. We all know what the challenges of Kenya is. The difference is going to be made by those who have a plan and a solution for the challenges we face as a nation. Tunaelewana jameni,” he said.

Ruto referenced the government’s 10-point agenda, asserting that critics initially doubted its seriousness. He said progress on the agenda demonstrates tangible results.

“We have demonstrated that when we signed the 10-point agenda, many people thought we were not serious about it. Today, we have a credible track record on what we have done on the 10-point agenda and on the transformation of our nation,” he said.

He framed his statement as a challenge and a commitment to accountability. “I said yesterday, I will repeat again. I went to the people of Kenya with a plan. I made commitments. We rolled out a program and a manifesto. I am ready to be examined on the basis of the manifesto that I presented to the people of Kenya and I am ready for the exam, whether I did what I told the people of Kenya or I did not. That exam, I am ready for it,” he said, referring to the assessment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ruto also called on other leaders to present their records instead of engaging in insults or ethnic politics.

“I want to challenge all the other leaders, kila mtu akuje na track record yake, kama umekua kiongozi miaka mitano, leta track record ya miaka mitano, kama umekua kiongozi miaka kumi, leta track record ya miaka kumi, wacha kusumbua sisi. So, matusi, name calling, ukabila…leta track record yako, leta track record yako,” he said.

The President’s remarks underscored his focus on accountability, performance, and unity, positioning himself as a leader ready to be judged on results rather than rhetoric.