Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has denied that opposition leaders intend to overthrow President William Ruto’s government.

He says their role as the opposition is to question the administration and discuss issues affecting Kenyans.

Onyonka, who spoke to a local TV station on Monday, July 6, 2026, said criticism of the government should not be interpreted as an attempt to remove it through unconstitutional means.

“We are not against the government intending to overthrow it; we are against the government because it is our democratic right to discuss issues affecting Kenyans, and the constitution allows me to oversee the government,” Onyonka said.

Opposition role

The senator said opposition leaders were using Kenya’s democratic space to engage citizens and offer their interpretation of national events.

“People think that when we say we are part of the opposition, our agenda is to dismantle the government and make sure we hate William Ruto,” Onyonka said.

“What we want is to make sure we use the democratic space we have to talk to Kenyans and ensure they have a fair interpretation of the events of the country.”

He maintained that political opposition did not mean personal hatred for President Ruto or a plan to dismantle the government.

Message to Wandayi

Onyonka also addressed Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary James Opiyo Wandayi, accusing government officials of benefiting from resources that should support vulnerable Kenyans.

Wandayi currently heads the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum after previously serving as Ugunja MP and National Assembly Minority Leader.

“We are not angry because you are eating. We are angry because you are eating money that is supposed to help our most vulnerable,” Onyonka told Wandayi.

The Kisii senator said the opposition’s responsibility was to scrutinise government decisions, demand accountability and speak about problems facing citizens.

He insisted that exercising political oversight and criticising the administration should not be confused with seeking to overthrow the government.