President William Ruto has dismissed former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s claim that Kenyans want opposition leaders to unite, saying Kenyatta should seek opinions from sober people.
Speaking in Kisii County on Wednesday, November 11, Ruto referred to Kenyatta’s account of hearing public opinion while walking around in search of “kauji” (porridge), a term synonymously associated with alcohol.
“I heard the sponsor saying that as he was walking around looking for ‘porridge’, he heard Kenyans saying that they have made up their minds. I want to tell my brother, Uhuru Kenyatta, to get opinions from sober people, not drunkards,” Ruto said.
He argued that Kenyatta would hear a different view from workers and professionals, including farmers, teachers, and doctors, as well as people employed in the Affordable Housing Project.
“Get information from sober Kenyans; those who have jobs, farmers, teachers, doctors, and those working in the Affordable Housing Project; they will tell you that Kenya is moving forward,” he said.
Ruto also pushed back against statements from opposition figures framing the Ol Kalou mini-poll as a blueprint for the 2027 General Election. Ruto pointed out that out of ten recent by-elections, the opposition managed to secure just a single victory while candidates aligned with the broad-based government won the remainder.
