President William Ruto addresses residents in Watamu, Kilifi on October 2, 2026/PCSPresident William Ruto has cautioned Coast residents against politicians he said may visit the region seeking financial contributions as they position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking in Watamu, Kilifi County, Friday, Ruto urged traders and residents to be wary of politicians who, he said, would soon move around the Coast asking for money while presenting themselves as presidential hopefuls.
Ruto specifically urged women traders not to contribute money to politicians whom he said were using their presidential ambitions to seek funds from ordinary Kenyans.
“Wafanyibiashara wa huku nawatahadharisha, kuna matapeli watakuja huku ati wanakuja kuomba pesa, ati wanatembea na mabakuli, ati wanatafuta vyeo katika nchi hii,” Ruto said.
The President referred to the politicians as “matapeli sugu” and “extortionists”, while alleging that they target different groups in pursuit of money.
“Mimi nataka niwaambie hawa ni matapeli sugu sana, wale ni extortionists wabaya sana,” he said.
Ruto said some of the politicians he was referring to behave differently in Nairobi, where he claimed they enjoy an expensive lifestyle, but present themselves differently when they travel to the Coast seeking support.
“Wale watu wakiwa kule Nairobi wanakunywa pombe ile kali sana iko na majina mawili mawili lakini wakifika hapa wanajifanya ati ni maskani,” he said.
He further said the politicians target everyone from small-scale traders to governors and investors.
“Wale watu ni dangerous, hakuna mtu hawa-extort, mara mama mboga, mara governors, mara investors,” Ruto said.
His remarks come as politicians opposed to his administration position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential contest, with several opposition figures having publicly expressed interest in succeeding him.
Ruto has in recent months intensified his criticism of opposition figures whom he has said lack an alternative policy agenda and rely on criticism of his administration.
On Thursday, during his Coast tour, the President also criticised Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna over what he described as extortion linked to his criticism of the proposed Dangote East Africa Refinery project in Lamu. Ruto alleged that Sifuna was acting on behalf of a political sponsor, a claim the senator has disputed.
The President has also previously described sections of the opposition as “rented” to oppose his government, while opposition leaders have rejected the characterisation.
Ruto's latest remarks came as he continued his Coast tour, during which he has been promoting government development projects and seeking support for his administration's agenda ahead of the 2027 election.
