President William Ruto has acknowledged that many Kenyans are unhappy with his government, but said the discontent is largely driven by his administration’s tough reform agenda.

Speaking in Karen, Nairobi, during a joint parliamentary group meeting of ODM and UDA lawmakers on Monday, August 18, Ruto defended his government’s decisions, saying the changes, though unpopular, are necessary to transform the country.

The President pointed to the Social Health Authority (SHA), the affordable housing programme, and new reforms in education and agriculture as some of the initiatives drawing resistance but argued that any leader would be forced to implement them.

“I can assure you, even if Raila Odinga were president today, he would be implementing SHA, housing, reforms in education, and agriculture. He would face the same difficulties I am facing now,” Ruto said.

He urged Kenyans to remain patient and allow time for his administration to deliver on the Kenya Kwanza manifesto, noting that decades of entrenched corruption have slowed down progress.

According to Ruto, some of the projects now underway should have been rolled out more than 30 years ago, and if that had happened, Kenya would already be on a stronger global economic path.

Ruto admitted that his popularity would be much higher if he avoided controversial policies but insisted that taking shortcuts would not benefit the country.

“The difficulties I face today are self-imposed. If I had not implemented the new funding model or housing, I would be very popular, but the country would gain nothing,” he told MPs.

At the same meeting, the President issued a strong warning against corruption in Parliament, accusing some legislators of taking bribes to frustrate critical reforms. He alleged that Sh10 million exchanged hands during the debate on the anti-money laundering Bill, a matter he said was under investigation.

“Do you know that a few members of your committee collected Sh10 million so that you don’t pass that law on anti-money laundering? Did you get the money?” he posed.

Ruto further criticized the role of Welfare Chairmen in parliamentary committees, claiming they have been turned into extortion platforms for legislators. He challenged MPs to clean up their image and stop practices that undermine the credibility of Parliament.