Kipruto Arap Kirwa critiques Ruto’s past election strategies
By Faith Lagat, April 10, 2026Former Cabinet Minister Kipruto Arap Kirwa has criticised President William Ruto’s election strategies, accusing him of repeatedly creating political “monsters” to frame opponents and position himself as an underdog during elections.
Speaking during a television interview on the night of Wednesday, April 9, 2026, Kirwa said the president has consistently used different narratives in each election cycle, tracing the pattern from 2007 to 2022 and suggesting that a similar strategy may emerge ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“President William Ruto, since he entered politics, has always looked for a monster to blame,” Kirwa stated.
He recalled that in 2007, the political contest was framed in ethnic terms, which he said influenced voting patterns in different regions, including Trans Nzoia, where he noted that only the Bukusu community largely remained aligned to then-President Mwai Kibaki.
Election narratives across cycles
Kirwa said that in 2013, the political narrative shifted to the International Criminal Court cases facing then-presidential candidates Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto at The Hague, with their campaigns centred on rallying support under the “save the two brothers” messaging.
He added that in the 2017 election, the opposition leader Raila Odinga was targeted through slogans and labels, while in 2022 the campaign narrative shifted to the “hustlers versus dynasties” framing, which he said resonated with voters by positioning ordinary citizens against established political families.
He said there are indications that a new political framing could be emerging ahead of the 2027 elections, suggesting continued reliance on similar campaign strategies.
Governance and economic concerns
Kirwa also questioned the credibility of the government’s development agenda, citing concerns over unfulfilled promises and declining public trust.
He said the administration’s vision of transforming Kenya into a highly industrialised economy comparable to countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and China requires stronger credibility and implementation.
“I get worried when we are dealing with the government because we have lost a lot of trust in it. We have lost a lot of trust given the fact that they have been making so many promises and they hardly achieve any,” he said.
He further argued that past campaign themes, including the “hustler versus dynasties” narrative and the Hustler Fund programme, have not translated into sustained policy outcomes, claiming that some initiatives have not been fully realised.
Political response and 2027 outlook
President Ruto has previously defended his economic agenda, maintaining that Kenya can achieve long-term transformation similar to Asian economies, citing their development trajectories.
He has also attributed delays in implementation of government projects to entrenched interests and pledged action against corruption and land-related cartels.
Kirwa’s remarks come amid ongoing political debate over governance performance and election messaging as attention gradually shifts toward the 2027 General Election.