Mandera Senator Ali Roba has urged Kenyans to consider giving President William Ruto a second term, arguing that voters should weigh his administration’s development record against the alternatives being offered by those seeking to unseat him in 2027.
Roba, a member of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) and former Mandera governor, challenged opposition leaders to present clear policy proposals and development plans rather than relying on criticism of the government.
“Kenya is moving forward and the President is taking us places. It is time for Kenyans to think realistically and give him a second term so that we can realise the growth that is taking place rather than reverse the gains we have made,” he said during an interview.
The senator said presidential aspirants need to explain their priorities, strategies and proposed interventions before asking Kenyans to entrust them with leadership.
He questioned whether opposition leaders had developed comprehensive blueprints showing how they intended to address the country’s challenges.
“You are in the media, and I want to pose a very simple question to you: What development blueprint do you have in your possession from any of the presidential candidates seeking to challenge the President? Can you show me even one?” he asked.
Roba said political alignments ahead of the 2027 General Election are still taking shape and that voters will have a clearer basis for evaluating competing candidates once their positions and proposals became more defined.
“The final political alignment that will take us to the election is yet to happen. When that starts taking shape, the truth can never be hidden,” he said.
He also questioned aspirants who had declared their intention to seek the presidency while promising to serve only one term, arguing that they needed to explain what they intended to achieve within that period.
Roba further weighed in on allegations of abductions, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and deaths during demonstrations.
The senator said he was troubled by the loss of lives and the suffering of families whose relatives had disappeared.
“I served as governor for 10 years, and I witnessed what happened in my own backyard, where people were picked up and disappeared,” he said.
He argued that security challenges in vulnerable areas should not expose residents to abuse and that authorities had a responsibility to protect citizens.
Roba said allegations against the current administration should be considered alongside historical cases of disappearances, killings and other abuses under previous governments, including those of former presidents Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki.
“I am not suggesting that people have not been killed during demonstrations under the current administration. It is very sad that lives have been lost,” he said.
The senator also criticised protests that he said had crossed the boundaries of lawful demonstrations, arguing that constitutional freedoms should not be used to justify the destruction of property or attempts to seize government institutions.
“How do you declare that you intend to overrun State House in the name of Gen Z demonstrations?” he asked.
Roba said the government had a responsibility to protect public institutions, businesses and citizens, while ensuring that people could exercise their constitutional right to protest.
He argued that the destruction of property, attacks on police stations and threats to seize State House raised broader questions about public safety and national stability.
While acknowledging the need to protect lives and property, Roba said he believed Ruto had exercised restraint in responding to unrest.
“Unfortunately, our President is a very lenient person,” he said.
His remarks come as political leaders in Northeastern position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Some regional leaders back Ruto’s re-election bid, citing development initiatives and government interventions as reasons for their support.
