Ruto confident of re-election, warns opponents of tough battle

President Ruto has declared that he is not shaken by the growing political heat ahead of the 2027 general elections, stating firmly that his focus remains on delivering development, not politics.

Addressing residents in Runyenjes town, Embu County, during his tour of the Mt Kenya region, the Head of State said he was confident of winning re-election, urging his rivals to prepare for a tough race.

He said his administration was committed to service delivery and that voters would ultimately judge leaders by their record.

“I have no doubt that I will win with a majority of votes in 2027. You elected MCAs, MPs, Senators, Governors, and myself to serve you, so everyone should focus on doing their job. When the time comes, Kenyans will decide who is best based on performance,” Ruto told the crowd.

The President said he was determined not to lose focus, saying his current priority was serving Kenyans.

“What I know is that I won’t fail this test—I will emerge the winner,” he said.

He also reaffirmed his relationship with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, describing their bond as strong and their leadership as unified.

“My deputy and I are inseparable. We are working together to unite all Kenyans,” Ruto said, dismissing any speculation of a fallout in his inner circle.

The President used the rally to introduce Geoffrey Ruku as his nominee for the Public Service Cabinet Secretary position.

Ruku, who is the Mbeere North MP, is expected to replace Justin Muturi, who was recently removed from the Cabinet over concerns about absenteeism and poor performance.

“Now that Ruku has been endorsed by the locals, he can begin work immediately,” Ruto said, drawing applause from area residents.

During the same event, Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire took the opportunity to lobby for key infrastructure projects in the region.

She requested funding for the construction of Kianjokoma and Kathageri markets, and a Sh100 million allocation to upgrade the Runyenjes Sub-County Hospital to Level Four status.

“Once you fulfil our requests, I will ensure that you are the best,” Mbarire told the President.

Ruto also addressed recent criticism of the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, who came under fire from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) after attending a political event in Nyeri.

The LSK had called for his resignation or a public apology, accusing him of violating the principle of neutrality.

But the President dismissed those calls, defending the IG's presence at the rally.

“The IG was on official duty accompanying me on my Mt Kenya development tour,” Ruto said.

“Even when the IG is not present, he is represented by many officers at our meetings. In Nyeri, we had over 300 police officers deployed, so why single out the IG?”

He urged Kenyans to avoid turning every issue into a political debate and instead rally behind government development programmes.

“When election time comes, we will put on our official gear and face off with others,” Ruto said.