President William Ruto has challenged opposition leaders to present concrete policies and strategies to Kenyans, saying that calls for his removal cannot serve as their only campaign message.
Speaking in Mombasa during the disbursement of Nyota Business Start-Up Capital funds, the President said the country needs politics that focus on solutions rather than endless agitation.
Ruto accused the opposition of repeating the same one-term rhetoric without offering viable alternatives on key national issues, including the economy, employment, and the rising cost of living. “What is your agenda? It can’t be to remove Ruto from office. They don’t have a youth agenda, they have no policy and have nothing to offer,” he said.
He emphasized that opposition leaders must clearly communicate their plans to the public. “What you cannot avoid is telling us what your agenda is. We know all of them, we know their intellectual capacity. They cannot have an agenda. They must stand on the podium and tell the people their plan,” Ruto added.
The President was accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, and Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives), Hassan Joho (Mining), Salim Mvurya (Sports), and Alice Wahome (Lands). Governors Abdulswamad Nassir of Mombasa and Andrew Mwadime of Taita Taveta also attended the event.
Ruto reiterated that his administration remains focused on implementing its development agenda and urged Kenyans to judge leaders by their tangible programmes rather than slogans. He stressed that leadership is about presenting ideas and solutions, not merely stirring public anger.
Kindiki highlighted government initiatives to empower the youth and stated that no one should manipulate young people into becoming disruptive.
Governor Nassir praised the government for intervening to revive the Coast’s economy, which he said was nearing collapse before Ruto assumed office in 2022.
“The economy of the Coast and Mombasa was almost collapsing; the last government transferred everything to Nairobi. It took your interventions to revive our economy,” he said.
The ODM deputy party leader also said his party will continue cooperating with the ruling government. “ODM and UDA manifestos are both talking about universal health. We are like-minded. UDA and ODM are both pushing for inclusivity; that is why, for instance, the Nyota programme is being rolled out across the country,” Nassir said.
He added, “As ODM, we have decided that we are either going to be part of the government.”
In the first phase of the Nyota Business Start-Up Capital programme, 5,880 youth from Mombasa, Kwale, and Taita Taveta counties received a total of Sh139.5 million. Beneficiaries were drawn from 70 wards—30 in Mombasa, 20 in Kwale, and 20 in Taita Taveta.
