Veteran politician and former Agriculture Cabinet Minister Kipruto Arap Kirwa has called on the United Opposition to mobilise for a decisive victory in the 2027 general election, urging that President William Ruto be dealt a 60 per cent rejection blow at the ballot box.

Kirwa’s remarks come amid intensifying political strategising by opposition leaders seeking to halt President Ruto’s re-election bid. The former minister’s tone reflects rising frustration with what critics view as unmet campaign promises and deepening governance concerns.

Speaking on Monday, February 23, 2026, during an interview on a local TV station, Kirwa lamented what he described as a failure by the current administration to deliver on key 2022 pledges, including addressing rising killings, the high cost of living, and entrenched corruption.

He accuses the government of ignoring institutional integrity and public participation in decision-making processes, arguing that the ruling coalition has shown little respect for democratic institutions or transparency.

“We cannot tell Kenyans that we have tackled insecurity when insecurity continues to claim lives. We want to give this guy a devastating blow by making sure that 60 per cent of Kenyans are going to reject him, notwithstanding the killings of some of us,” he stated.

Kirwa, who once served in President Ruto’s administration but later defected from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), has been a persistent critic of the government’s policies.

In 2025, for instance, he publicly questioned Ruto’s ambitious Singapore-style economic transformation vision, suggesting the failure to achieve earlier pledges had eroded public trust.

“I get worried when we are dealing with the government because we have lost a lot of trust in it,” Kirwa remarked in December 2025, noting that many promises remain unfulfilled and rife with scepticism.

The president has rejected accusations that his leadership is faltering, insisting that critics are merely noise without substantive alternatives.

Ruto, a one-term president?

Ruto said he would not be intimidated by opposition criticism, insisting the government’s transformation agenda, including affordable housing and universal health coverage, remains on course.

However, Kirwa says Ruto’s leadership style and political management have alienated key segments of the electorate.

The united opposition has been working to forge a strong coalition ahead of the 2027 vote, with leaders such as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and Jubilee Deputy Party leader Fred Matiang’i are still deliberating on consolidating their political efforts under a common banner to challenge the ruling coalition.

Kirwa’s strategic warning to opposition colleagues also invoked historical context, urging them not to repeat past tactical errors that undermined earlier efforts to unseat incumbents. Referencing political setbacks from previous election cycles, he emphasised that unity and disciplined strategy are critical to achieving victory in 2027.

“We have certain experiences; we know how the opposition failed in the past,” Kirwa said, adding that the lessons of history should guide present electoral planning.

While the government maintains that its reforms are long-term and beneficial, Kirwa argue that failed promises and perceived detachment from everyday struggles have fuelled widespread dissatisfaction.