NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has suggested that opposition leader Raila Odinga would have encountered the same difficulties his administration is grappling with had he won the 2022 presidential election.
Speaking during a joint parliamentary group meeting on Monday, August 18, the Head of State said both his Kenya Kwanza coalition and Raila’s Azimio la Umoja had pledged similar reforms in their manifestos, particularly in housing, education, agriculture, and the Social Health Authority (SHA).
“Yes, he would be implementing SHA, he would be implementing housing, he would be doing reforms in education and agriculture. I know that for a fact because I have been on his side,” Ruto told MPs.
According to the president, Raila would also have faced growing public discontent over the tough policy measures, just as the Kenya Kwanza government has.
“He would be as unpopular, or he would be having the same difficulties that I have today—but these are necessary for Kenya to change,” Ruto said.
The president defended his reforms, insisting they are painful but necessary to transform the country, even at the expense of his own popularity.
“I have said that the difficulties that I face today are self-imposed. Implementing the new funding model, implementing housing—if I hadn’t done any of those, I would be a very popular person. But the country would not have anything,” he said.
Ruto also praised Raila for his boldness in calling out Members of Parliament over corruption and extortion, noting that few leaders have shown similar courage in the face of criticism.
