'Retire honourably, stop lecturing us!' Ruto allies hit back at Uhuru over criticism of Gov't programmes

Allies of President William Ruto from the Ukambani region have fired back at former President Uhuru Kenyatta following his remarks that the current administration has undone progress made during his tenure.

Speaking during the Jubilee Party National Delegates Conference on Friday, Uhuru faulted the Kenya Kwanza government for what he termed “untested and untried experiments” that were hurting Kenyans.

"Today, many of the gains of the past have been eroded. Linda Mama and others have been replaced by new, untried and untested schemes. While we wait for these experiments to work, Kenyans suffer and our progress is dragged," Uhuru said in his address.

"As we continue to dwell in rhetoric rather than progress, we repeat the mistakes of the past. Some of the truths we spoke of and some of the myths have become the nightmares that many are living with," he added while referring to his earlier warning to Kenyans about their political choices during the 2022 elections. 

But Mwala MP and UDA National Organizing Secretary Vincent Kawaya dismissed the former President’s claims, accusing him of leaving behind a battered economy.

“Uhuru Kenyatta should retire honourably and stop lecturing those who are fixing the mess he left behind. He ran down the country, and President Ruto is working overtime to rebuild it,” Kawaya said during a boda boda empowerment event in Kitui town.

He also took aim at the Nairobi Expressway, calling it an exploitative project benefiting Uhuru’s associates at the expense of Kenyans.

Kawaya said President William Ruto is on track for an “undisputed re-election” in 2027, arguing that his administration is investing in bold, long-term programs that will yield returns for citizens.

He defended the government’s grassroots empowerment initiatives, which have come under criticism from the opposition, challenging detractors to propose viable alternatives instead of fault-finding.

Kitui South MP Dr. Rachael Nyamai backed Kawaya’s sentiments, lauding the affordable housing program as a transformative initiative that previous regimes shied away from.

“Some leaders feared pursuing tough national projects like affordable housing, but this government has shown courage. The benefits in terms of dignified living and economic empowerment are immense,” Nyamai said.

The two leaders also urged striking lecturers to return to the negotiating table to avoid further disruption of learning in public universities. They appealed to the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) to prioritise the welfare of students.

On international engagement, Kawaya and Nyamai praised President Ruto’s recent address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, contrasting it with past delegations.

“President Ruto presented Kenya’s agenda with clarity and statesmanship. Unlike former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who turned a previous U.S. visit into a platform for tribal rhetoric, Ruto showed real leadership on the global stage,” Kawaya said.

The leaders insisted that the Kenya Kwanza administration is on the right trajectory and called on critics to give reforms time to bear fruit.