Nairobi, Kenya — President William Ruto has come under fire from political opponents over his repeated criticisms of former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, with some accusing him of hypocrisy for attributing Kenya’s debt, corruption, and stalled development projects to a government in which he served as deputy.
At a press conference held in Nairobi on June 3, 2026, Nyali Member of Parliament Mohamed Ali and Nyandarua Senator John Methu openly challenged Ruto’s narrative, asserting that the president’s finger-pointing at Uhuru’s tenure ignores his own role in past government decisions.
The lawmakers argued that Ruto’s public rebuke of his predecessor is politically motivated and risks deepening existing divisions in the country as Kenya edges closer to the 2027 general elections.
“President Ruto cannot disown the problems of the past simply because he now occupies State House,” Mohamed Ali said, emphasizing that as deputy president, Ruto was part of the administration that made many of the decisions currently under scrutiny.
Ali added that the country continues to grapple with challenges that were either inherited or exacerbated during Ruto’s time as Uhuru’s deputy, including mounting national debt and mismanagement of key public projects.
Senator John Methu echoed these sentiments, highlighting that Ruto’s rhetoric has failed to promote national cohesion. “Instead of uniting Kenyans, the president has allowed ethnic tensions to fester while his party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), continues to attack Uhuru’s legacy. This is not leadership; it is political point-scoring,” Methu stated.
The criticism comes amid a heightened political atmosphere, with the 2027 elections looming and parties ramping up campaigns.
Analysts note that the debate over Kenya’s past governance and development record has become a central theme, particularly as Ruto seeks to solidify his political base while appealing to undecided voters.
Ruto’s supporters, however, maintain that his administration has been proactive in addressing some of the issues inherited from previous governments.
They point to efforts in reducing regional disparities by promoting development in historically neglected areas, including the North and Coast regions. Infrastructure projects, improved service delivery, and economic initiatives in these regions are cited as evidence of Ruto’s commitment to equitable growth and reform.
“The president has faced inherited challenges with decisive action. While critics focus on the past, the administration has made tangible progress in regions that had been overlooked for decades,” said a UDA spokesperson, highlighting Ruto’s development agenda.
Despite these defenses, political commentators argue that Ruto’s continued emphasis on Uhuru’s alleged missteps may be a double-edged sword.
While it allows him to draw a contrast between past and present leadership, it also exposes him to scrutiny for his own record in government and raises questions about accountability.
Observers further note that the current political climate is highly sensitive, with public sentiment increasingly focused on leadership integrity, transparency, and national unity.
In this context, accusations of hypocrisy and selective blame could influence voter perceptions, especially as civil society groups warn about the risks of inflamed ethnic divisions in the run-up to elections.
As Kenya navigates these debates, it is clear that the legacy of past administrations will remain a central topic in public discourse.
For Ruto, balancing the need to defend his record, promote his developmental agenda, and maintain national cohesion presents a delicate political challenge.
Meanwhile, his critics are keen to hold him accountable for his tenure as deputy president and the decisions that contributed to current national challenges.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the debate over leadership, responsibility, and national unity is expected to intensify, shaping the narratives that will dominate Kenya’s political landscape in the coming months.