Ruto tells opposition it lacks vision, development agenda
National
By
Abdimalik Hajir
| Jun 03, 2026
President William Ruto has accused the opposition of lacking a development agenda for Kenyans, saying its leaders are more focused on giving him nicknames than offering solutions to the country's challenges.
The President said his administration remains committed to transforming Kenya through development projects and economic reforms, while challenging his critics to present alternative policies.
The Head of State who was speaking after commissioning Kotulo-tarbaj road, told residents not to mind the opposition as they don’t have any agenda and do not know how to build roads, electricity connection and provision of water.
“All they know is one term, Kasongo, they don’t have any plan or manifesto, what they think they have done is important is calling me names,” said President Ruto who was in the region for the third day after presiding over Madaraka day in Wajir.
The President who spent the second night in Wajir state lodge commissioned Eldas Water Supply Project as well as break ground for 580-bed hostels at Eldas Teacher Training College in Eldas.
President Ruto also addressed local media speaking about various issues including Ebola which he said the government has put in place robust measures to safeguard public health and strengthen the country’s emergency response capacity to the disease.
He also flew to Garissa to commission and inspect more projects including the inspection of ongoing construction of Garissa-Ijara Road at Sarira, Fafi Constituency and break ground for the Maalimin electricity mini-grid, Lagdera Constituency.
He said his administration is investing KSh15 billion in Wajir County to build 18 modern markets, 2,000-bed student hostels and 4,600 affordable housing units, the initiatives President Ruto said will expand economic opportunities, improve living standards and create jobs for the residents.
Also commissioned the KSh460 million Eldas Water Supply Project and committed an additional KSh900 million to further enhance water access for residents.
Later addressed residents of Eldas town and urged parents across Northern Kenya to take full advantage of the Government's investment in education by ensuring their children attend school.
The President was accompanied by Cabinet secretary Aden Duale and a host of others leaders and senior government officers, Duale said the region has gotten its elusive freedom under President William Ruto.
“From Kenyatta to Uhuru they have refused to build this road Connecting Garissa Mandera, getting IDs we were subjected to unnecessary vetting, they had refused to invest in our schools,” said the vocal CS.
Duale noted that its in the scripture to return favour to anyone who does good things for you saying President Ruto has unlike other Presidents spent nights in the region.
“Northeastern under the leadership of President Ruto is when we got our first liberation, he brought Madaraka day to wajir, he built the road from Isiolo to Mandera, he removed the discriminatory vetting of previous successive governments,” he said.
However in turn of event, Fafi Member of parliament Salah Yakub who was once staunch defender of the ruling party has absconded visit of the President Ruto terming it a hoax
Yakub who in the recent past has been attacking the ruling party that he claims has given Northeastern region a raw deal said the visit in his constituency by the President is a tour and inspection of the Lapsset project which he said is not specific to his constituency.
The Mp who once caused controversy over his proposal to extend the Presidential term limit to seven said his constituency deserves its own dedicated development agenda including water for every community noting that clean water is a right not a privilege.
According to the Mp his constituency deserves roads, education, for the children including schools, teachers and a better future adding that his people need access to quality healthcare.
Yakub is amongst the few UDA legislators in the region recently speaking in his constituency said he will mobilize people in the region to go against the ruling party and Ruto’s re-election, he noted that re-election of President is not automatic until something tangible is found.