Machakos County turned into the latest political battleground on Saturday as President William Ruto and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka traded barbs over the region’s development record.
Speaking at the Eastern Kenya Integrated College in Mitaboni during a church service, President Ruto accused Kalonzo of dragging Ukambani behind in development. He defended his administration’s economic management, insisting that the country was now on the path to transformation after what he described as rescuing an economy “at the risk of collapsing.”
“We have managed to consolidate and stabilise our economy that was at the risk of collapsing. Now, we are on the path to transforming every part of Kenya — including Ukambani that has for far too long suffered marginalisation due to politics,” the President said.
Ruto also laid the foundation stone for the construction of the college’s laboratories, vowing that his government would invest in projects to uplift the region.
But just a few kilometres away in Mutituni and Mulolongo, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka led a united opposition rally to drum up support for the party’s candidate in the forthcoming Mumbuni North Ward by-election — and used the platform to deliver a stinging rejoinder.
“The Right to Reply to Mr Ruto”, Kalonzo, flanked by Deputy Coalition Party leader Rigathi Gachagua, former Attorney General Justin Muturi, and DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, accused the President of misleading Kenyans with empty promises and stalling key national projects.
“Stop lying; you cannot continue misleading Kenyans. The right to development is a constitutional right, not a whim of an individual. Every region in Kenya has an equal right to development regardless of their perceived political affiliation,” Kalonzo fired back.
The opposition listed projects allegedly stalled under Ruto’s leadership, including the High Falls Dam, Konza Technopolis, and Thakwe Dam, before turning their guns on the government’s handling of industrial unrest.
“Kenya has become a striking nation! Every month there’s a strike — KUPPET, KNUT, doctors, teachers, university lecturers. The only group not on strike is the United Opposition, because we have a duty to rescue and liberate Kenya from your destruction,” Kalonzo declared.
The leaders rallied supporters under the hashtag #WANTAM, vowing that Kenyans were ready to send Ruto home at the ballot.
The twin events in Machakos underscore the intensifying political duel between the President and Kalonzo in Ukambani, a region that both camps see as a key battleground ahead of 2027.
