NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has warned that more than two million jobs and employment opportunities could be jeopardised if the opposition wins the 2027 General Election, accusing his political rivals of planning to scrap key government programmes.
Speaking during a church service at ACK Church in Kapsabet, Nandi County, on Sunday, Ruto defended affordable housing, the Social Health Authority (SHA) and overseas employment initiatives, arguing that dismantling the programmes would reverse gains made under his administration.
The President claimed that more than 1.1 million jobs were linked to the affordable housing programme, while 680,000 overseas employment opportunities and 300,000 digital jobs could be at risk under an opposition administration.
“Those competing with us will take us back. They are saying that they will scrap affordable housing. I don’t know where all these over one million youths will go to,” Ruto said.
His remarks placed jobs, healthcare and economic development at the centre of the political contest ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ruto Defends SHA Amid Opposition Criticism
Ruto also warned that scrapping SHA would force Kenyans to return to fundraising and selling property to meet hospital bills.
“They are saying they will remove SHA so that people can go back to selling cows, doing harambees, and selling their property to pay hospital bills. Those people, pray that they don’t take us back,” he said.
The President accused his opponents of lacking a clear development agenda, using harsh language to criticise their leadership and policy proposals.
“Working with these people (opposition) will be like playing cards. It will be guesswork,” he said.
Ruto urged voters to assess competing political parties on the basis of their development plans, manifestos and proposed policies rather than campaign rhetoric.
“We must use our freedom and right to choose in a democracy to choose a better vision. Choose a better plan. Choose a better manifesto. That is the essence of democracy,” he said.
He added that political freedom would have limited meaning if Kenyans continued to live in poverty.
Mudavadi, Ichung’wah Campaign For Ruto’s Re-Election
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi also criticised opposition leaders, describing them as dishonest and questioning their ability to build and sustain political parties.
Mudavadi questioned claims by an unnamed political figure who had served as ODM secretary general and reportedly said he could launch and establish a party within six months.
“If someone has been secretary general of ODM, how can he lie to us that within six months, he can launch a party, market it and create structures?” Mudavadi said.
He maintained that Kenya was in safe hands under Ruto and urged residents of Nandi to register as voters ahead of the next election.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, meanwhile, said residents of the Mt Kenya region would honour their pledge to support Ruto for a second term.
“We said Uhuru kumi and Ruto kumi. That is a journey we started in 2013. We have already given Ruto his first term. We still have five years for a second term,” Ichung’wah said.
The remarks form part of the political mobilisation taking shape ahead of the 2027 General Election, with leaders in Ruto’s camp urging voters to back his administration for another term.
Ruto Announces KEMSA, Healthcare Changes
Beyond politics, Ruto said the government had streamlined operations at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to improve the timely delivery of medicines to public health facilities.
He said strengthening dispensaries and health centres would help ease congestion at referral hospitals and improve access to healthcare services.
The President reiterated his administration’s commitment to transforming the health sector, education, agriculture and infrastructure.
Government Plans Changes To Higher Education Funding
On education, Ruto announced plans to overhaul funding for students joining universities, colleges, technical institutions and Kenya Medical Training Colleges from January.
He said the government would mobilise resources to ensure students were not denied opportunities for higher education because of their parents’ financial circumstances.
“Let the education of our children not be based on the money the parent has but the ability of the child to learn,” he said.
The proposed changes are intended to address financial barriers to higher education, although further details of the funding arrangements were not provided in the remarks.
Ruto Cites Rising Milk Prices, Road Projects
Ruto also defended reforms in the dairy sector, claiming that milk prices had increased from Sh35 per litre in 2022 to Sh65 in October.
He directed dairy processors to ensure farmers receive their payments before the fifth day of every month.
The President further defended the housing levy, saying it had enabled the government to undertake construction projects across the country.
He said more than 6,000 kilometres of roads were under construction as part of efforts to promote equitable development.
Ruto concluded by calling for national unity, saying his administration would serve Kenyans across all communities regardless of their political affiliations.
He said national transformation required shared responsibility involving the national government, county administrations and citizens.
