Ruto Urges Kenyans to Ignore "Retrogressive Ideas"

By Kepher Otieno - Reporter

Kenya, 2 February 2026 - President William Ruto is turning up the heat in the political arena, challenging Kenyans to reject leaders who, in his words, want to “reverse progress” in education, housing, and healthcare.

Speaking at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu, Ruto left little doubt that his administration sees the upcoming political season as a defining battle over Kenya’s development trajectory.

“Some people who messed up the education sector are the same ones criticising the reforms we are undertaking. Please give us a break and spare us your lectures,” Ruto said, putting the opposition squarely on the defensive.

His words were aimed at parties threatening to roll back the reforms his government has painstakingly implemented since taking office.

Ruto detailed the strides in education under his watch: increased funding to schools, colleges, and universities, hiring 100,000 teachers and over 2,000 college tutors, and addressing shortages in TVET institutions.

“We found an education system that had serious problems. There was not enough money and there were not enough teachers,” he said.

Education, he stressed, is central to Kenya’s economic agenda, with young people described as the nation’s greatest resource.

The President delivered his message while presiding over the disbursement of KSh 220 million in NYOTA business startup grants to more than 8,800 youth entrepreneurs from Kisumu, Siaya, and Homa Bay counties—a tangible demonstration of his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment.

Accompanying him were Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga, cabinet secretaries, governors, and other senior leaders.

Ruto painted a stark contrast between his government’s initiatives and the opposition’s approach. From the Hustler Fund and Kazi Majuu to digital hubs and affordable housing, he said these programs are directly changing lives.

“The guys are saying housing is not a priority, yet it has employed more than 500,000 young people across the country. Where will such people go if such a programme is reversed?” he challenged.

Universal health coverage under the Social Health Authority was another highlight. Ruto dismissed calls to revert to the defunct NHIF, calling such ideas “retrogressive” and demonstrating, in his view, the opposition’s lack of leadership vision. Youth empowerment remained a recurring theme. The President emphasised inclusivity, stressing that opportunities do not discriminate based on tribe, education level, or background. “In this programme, what matters is hard work,” he said, highlighting that Kenya’s youth have “outgrown the tired mathematics of the tribe and the small thinking of yesterday’s politics.”

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Echoing the President, Deputy President Kindiki urged young people to leverage programmes like NYOTA to kickstart viable businesses, promising a transformative impact on their lives.

ODM leader Oburu Oginga, meanwhile, signaled political pragmatism.

The party is ready for negotiations with UDA ahead of the next general election, but, he insisted, the aim is to secure what the people deserve, not specific positions.

"We are not interested in the seat of the Deputy President, but what our people deserve,” Oginga said.

Political theatrics were another target.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga dismissed opposition talk of demonstrations as empty rhetoric, framing the government-aligned leadership as focused squarely on service delivery.

“There is no clear plan or agenda for the protests. But we are not boarding that train. We are working,” she said.

Ruto’s Kisumu rally was more than a local political event—it was a blueprint of his vision for Kenya’s future. By linking education, youth empowerment, affordable housing, and healthcare directly to economic opportunity, the President cast the opposition as agents of regression, contrasting sharply with his administration’s “forward-looking” narrative.

With the NYOTA grants, inclusive programs, and a clear message that Kenya must not regress, Ruto is positioning his government not just as a political force, but as a vehicle for national transformation. The message is unambiguous: in the race for Kenya’s future, the stakes are high, the youth are ready, and the country cannot afford to look back.