'You’re the biggest problem in this country!' Sifuna tears into Ruto ahead of 2027 showdown

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has renewed his attack on President William Ruto, declaring that the Head of State is “the biggest problem in this country” and should make way for a new administration in the 2027 General Election.

Sifuna, who spoke on Friday at the burial of Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale’s wife Gloria, accused Ruto of misleading Kenyans with campaign promises that he claimed had not been honoured.

The former Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General said Ruto’s political messaging during the 2022 presidential campaign was built around slogans and promises that had since failed to materialise.

“William Ruto, ulijikuta kwa uongozi, uliingia State House ukiimba slogan. Huwezi kutuambia ‘hustler’ sio slogan… ‘bottom-up’ ilikuwa slogan,” Sifuna said.

He accused the President of making promises to boda boda operators, women and young people during the campaign, only to change course after taking office.

“Ulidanganya wananchi, ulikuwa unaenda ukiambia watu wa boda boda ya kwamba ukiingia kwa serikali watatoka kwa boda boda waingie kwa taxi,” he said.

“Alisimama wakati mmoja akaita akina mama wa Kenya, ati anaandikisha kitu inaitwa Women’s Charter, kwa serikali yake akina mama watapewa nusu bin nusu. Alifika alifanya hiyo kazi? Uongo wazi.”

The Nairobi Senator further criticised the Hustler Fund, arguing that Ruto had campaigned on the promise of giving young people money to start businesses but later introduced the programme as a loan facility.

“William Ruto aliingia akisema atapea vijana wetu pesa ya biashara bure. Alipoingia, Hustler Fund ile alikuwa anasema itakuwa grant, akageuza ikakuwa loan,” Sifuna said.

Sifuna also turned his attention to the Social Health Authority (SHA), accusing the President of failing to deliver on the promise of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and an end to public fundraising to cater for medical bills.

He challenged Ruto to publicly declare that medical harambees had ended, arguing that this was the promise Kenyans were given under the government's UHC agenda.

“Ruto, nataka ujue, si lazima udanganye wananchi ndio wakupende wakupatie kura. Niliona juzi usiku anatasumbua akipigia watu masimu kusema ati vile SHA inafanya. William Ruto ulituambia ya kwamba sisi tukitozwa pesa zaidi ziende kwa SHA, mambo ya harambee ya kuchangia watu wetu kuenda hospitali itakoma, that was the promise of Universal Health Coverage,” said Sifuna.

“Naskia ulikuwanga pastor, nataka William Ruto ubebe bibilia, utangaze mbele ya nchi kwamba harambee za kuchangia watu hospitali zimeisha.”

He then delivered his most direct political message to the President, saying: “William wacha uwongo, na watu wameshakugundua. Kama hiyo uwongo ndio unaita plan yako, sisi tunataka kukuambia plan yetu ni moja tu; uende nyumbani!”

Sifuna said the political opposition would seek to restore what he termed Kenya's “railway of democracy” if it wins power in 2027.

He accused the Ruto administration of interfering with citizens' freedoms, citing the case of Albert Ojwang, whose death in police custody sparked nationwide outrage and renewed scrutiny of police conduct.

“You’re the biggest problem in this country. Tunapoingia katika serikali, kama team ya Linda Mwananchi, tutarudisha Kenya hii yetu kwa reli ya demokrasia. Sio mambo ati mtu anaandika kitu ambayo hupendi ka Facbeook ama Twitter unamtumia ma-Subaru, vile ulituma polisi wachukue kijana Homa Bay anaitwa Albert Ojwang mkaenda mkapiga yeye mkamuua kwa cell. Nataka wananchi wa Kenya wakuwe huru kufanya mambo yao bila kuingiliwa na serikali,” he said.

He said the Linda Mwananchi political coalition's manifesto would be anchored on the Constitution and its implementation.

“Manifesto yetu kama Linda Mwananchi, ni katiba ya nchi ya Kenya, na kazi yetu ni kuhakikisha kwamba katiba hiyo inatekelezwa vilivyo,” he said.

Sifuna also sought to downplay the controversy surrounding the Linda Mwananchi political vehicle, amid efforts by its proponents to secure the party identity and branding.

He argued that the political movement's appeal was not dependent on its name, insisting that Kenyans were looking for credible leadership rather than a particular political label.

He maintained that the political movement would retain its political relevance regardless of the name under which it ultimately contests elections.

“Haijalishi jina gani unaweka, wananchi are looking for credible leadership, watu ambao wanaaminika. Raila Odinga ata angetoka ODM ata tungetoka na yeye. A name is just a name,” Sifuna said.

“Hii fujo mnaona ati wanakazia Registrar kutupatia sisi brand yetu, kwa sababu ni sisi tumejenga hii kitu inaitwa Linda Mwananchi…kwa kimombo wanasema, ‘A rose by any other name will still smell as nice.’”

His remarks come as political parties and alliances position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election, with the opposition seeking to consolidate a common political vehicle against Ruto's administration.

Sifuna also used his remarks to reject the perception that younger opposition politicians lacked the experience to challenge the Kenya Kwanza administration.

He said the opposition's political strategy had been shaped by years of experience working alongside veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga.

He urged his supporters to remain calm despite what he described as attempts to underestimate the emerging political formation.

“Mahali tumefika, a big part of the success that we have achieved, ni kwa sababu watu wanatudharau. Hawa jamaa wanakaanga wanaangalia hawa vijana, wanasema hawa ni watoto kwa siasa hawajui ile kitu wanafanya,” said the Linda Mwananchi stalwart.

“Yaani kwa akili yako, unakaa tu unafikiria Sifuna hana chama? Hata kama  mnatudharau, hii siasa tumefunzwa na profesa wa siasa mwenye, Raila Amollo Odinga. Kwa hivo mimi nataka watu wetu mtulie tu.”

Sifuna's remarks at the burial also contained a lighter account of how his political relationship with Khalwale evolved despite their backing opposing presidential candidates in the 2022 election.

He recalled that while Khalwale supported Ruto, he and other opposition politicians backed the late long-term ODM party chief Raila Odinga.

He said their political paths began to converge after the election, particularly after Moses Wetangula was elected Speaker of the National Assembly.

Sifuna narrated how Khalwale accompanied him to congratulate Wetangula, only for the Speaker to confront him over past political jibes.

He jokingly recalled that Wetangula had kept a record of insults directed at him during the campaign season, turning the meeting into an uncomfortable political reckoning.

“Vile walitushinda kura, kitu ilifanyika hiyo wiki ya kwanza tu…Wetangula akachaguliwa kama Speaker wa National Assembly. Sasa mimi nimekaa pale Senate, nauliza Khalwale kama tunaweza enda tumsalimie Wetangula tumwambie congratulations, maana nikienda pekee yangu anaweza ata kunifukuza ama animwagie chai,” he said.

“Khalwale akanipeleka kama mzee, Wetangula vile alituona tumeingia akawa lazima anionyeshe ya kwamba yeye ni mdosi. Weta alifungua file yangu…Wetangula ako na roho mbaya…kila matusi ushawahi kumtusi, ameandiki chini anakumbuka mpaka tarehe. Nina bahati sana Khalwale alikuwa hapo, hiyo mkutano ingeharibika, because jamaa alinisomea mashtaka, mpaka nikajiskia mimi mwenyewe nijipe tu hukumu nijifunge nikitokanga.”

He credited Khalwale with preventing the encounter from descending into a political disaster.

“Nina bahati sana Khalwale alikuwa hapo, hiyo mkutano ingeharibika, because jamaa alinisomea mashtaka, mpaka nikajiskia mimi mwenyewe nijipe tu hukumu nijifunge nikitokanga,” he said.

Sifuna also recalled Khalwale's removal as Senate Majority Whip, saying he immediately recognised that his own political fortunes could soon be affected.

“Khalwale alikuwa kiongozi wa walio wengi pale Senate, akatolewa mara moja. Siku ile niliona amenyolewa, yangu nilitia maji… nilikuwa najua yangu inakuja,” he said.