President William Ruto has stated that opposition leader Raila Odinga would be facing the same struggles he is currently enduring if he had been elected president in 2022.
Speaking during a joint parliamentary group meeting on Monday, August 18, Ruto defended his government’s controversial reforms, insisting that they are necessary for Kenya’s transformation. He argued that despite political differences, his and Raila’s manifestos shared many priorities, particularly in housing, education, agriculture, and governance reforms.
“Yes, he would be implementing the Social Health Authority (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 said. “He would be as unpopular or be having the same difficulties that I have today, but these are necessary for Kenya to change, friends.”
The president acknowledged that some of the challenges his administration is grappling with such as unpopularity among sections of the public are self-imposed, stemming from tough decisions he has chosen to pursue. He noted that avoiding these reforms would have made him popular but left the country without meaningful progress.
“I have said that the difficulties that I face today are self-imposed. Implementing the new funding model, implementing housing, doing all those things if I hadn’t done them, I would be a very popular person, but the country would not have anything,” he remarked.
Ruto also praised Raila Odinga, describing him as one of the few leaders bold enough to withstand criticism and remain committed to fighting graft and extortion. He linked Raila’s anti-graft stance to the broader reforms his administration is pursuing, saying the opposition leader understands the necessity of difficult changes.
“We cannot change the country otherwise, and that is why he has the courage to stand here and tell you, let us stop the extortion,” Ruto added.
The president emphasized that transformation requires unpopular but bold steps, urging leaders to prioritize Kenya’s long-term development over short-term political gain.
