President William Ruto has vowed not to allow opposition leaders to insult him, maintaining that he will continue calling out what he considers inappropriate behaviour, including urging critics to change certain habits.

Speaking in Kisumu on Friday, March 20, 2026, Ruto emphasised that he will face his critics directly, responding to attacks instead of staying silent as he did before.

“Wale nitawashughulikia. Unajua hawa wamenitukana for two years mfululizo. Juzi nimewajibu tu siku moja, na hata si kuwajibu, niliwaambia tu tabia yenu si nzuri, kaeni vizuri,” Ruto said.

Loosely translated, “I will deal with them. You know they have been insulting me for two straight years. The other day, I only responded for one day, and even then, I wasn’t really answering them, I just told them their behaviour is wrong, to behave properly, and stop exploiting orphans and widows,” Ruto said.

Opposition Leaders’ Behaviour

Ruto defended his stance, saying he was simply calling out what he sees as improper behaviour by some opposition leaders. This comes following the remarks by Ruto on opposition figures when he described them as brainless.

He said that he was just correcting certain behaviours, including eating habits and weight.

“Nimewaambia wakuwe na nidhamu, chakula wapunguze wasikule sana. Sasa hiyo nimesema iko makosa wapi? Mimi sijatumia lugha ya matusi, wao ndio wananitukana. Na shida wao ndio walianzisha, nilijaribu kuwaeleza jameni wacha tushindane kwa sera, tushindane kwa maono…wakasema hawana agenda, hawana maono, hawana mpango. Ati mpango yao yote ni William Ruto. Sasa, what was I supposed to do?” Ruto stated.

Loosely translate, “I have told them to be disciplined and to eat less so they don’t overindulge. So, where is the mistake in that? I didn’t use any insulting language—they are the ones insulting me. And the problem started with them. I tried to tell them, ‘Let’s compete through policies, through vision,’ but they said they have no agenda, no vision, no plan. They claim their entire plan revolves around William Ruto. So, what was I supposed to do?” Ruto stated.

President Ruto vs Gachagua drama

These remarks come after the insult between Ruto and Gachagua erupted during various public gatherings by the key politicians.

Ruto, while speaking in Cheptais, Mt Elgon, on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, has hit back at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over recent remarks about his weight loss.

He urged his former deputy to focus on fitness, quipping that Gachagua’s ‘big belly’ could be behind his struggles to stay awake during official meetings.

“Kwanza nawaambia baadhi yenu mwende gym; acheni kula chakula kingi. Matumbo yamejaa hadi vichwa vinakaribia kupasuka. Mnalala kwenye mikutano hata mchana,” Ruto said.

Gachagua on Ruto’s lost weight

On Monday, March 16, 2026, during the funeral of Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wah’s mother, Gachagua trolled President Ruto, claiming that he has lost weight because the opposition is giving him sleepless nights.

He teased that the United Opposition had managed to get into the President’s psyche with the constant criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration. Gachagua said the opposition has managed to get into the president’s psyche through constant criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration.