Ruto eyes Gusii votes amid looming stiff opposition from Matiang’i
By Robert Ochoro, November 23, 2025President William Ruto is making a strategic push for the Gusii vote as stiff opposition looms, following Jubilee Deputy Party leader Fred Matiang’i’s entry into the 2027 presidential race.
The Head of State’s popularity in the Gusii region is also facing a political test in the impending mini-polls for Nyamaiya, Nyasiongo, and Ekerenyo Wards, where his party and opposition parties have fielded candidates and are scrambling for voters to prove their political supremacy.
The President has vowed to maintain the Gusii region voting bloc, dominated by the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic (ODM) Party, and wants residents to shun opposition politics.
“I challenge the opposition to avoid ‘one term’ and ‘Kasongo must go’. Huo ni ujinga (that is nonsense),” Ruto said after he graced the 11th anniversary of Gospel Embassy Chapel in Kisii County on Saturday, November 22, 2025.
Ruto’s political foot soldiers – Japhet Nyakundi (Kitutu Chache North constituency), Silvanus Osoro (South Mugirango), and Joash Nyamoko (North Mugirango) – have camped in the wards drumming support for United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidates Thomas Nyandiekz (Nyamaiya Ward) and Dennis Kebaso (Nyansiongo).
Conversely, Kitutu Masaba lawmaker Clive Gisairo, Senator Okong’o Omogeni, and former South Mugirango legislator Omingo Magara are campaigning for Jackson Mogusu under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nyansiongo Ward, while Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo is rooting for the United Progressive Alliance’s Kevin Maranga, both under the United Opposition.
Ruto challenged opposition leaders to focus on clear policies, insisting his government’s development agenda is unstoppable, urging residents to reject divisive, ethnic-driven politics, and warning that hatred has no place in a forward-looking Kenya.
“I have talked to your leaders. I will not leave the Gusii community behind in my development agenda. I want us to move together as we strive to make our country the first world,” Ruto said.
Ruto scoffs at the opposition
The Head of State continued with his onslaught on his critics, challenging them to present their development agenda to Kenyans instead of relying on the politics of hate and division.
He pointed out that intelligent leaders explain their agenda and plan to the people, adding that Kenya must reject divisive politics and instead focus on unity, peace, and prosperity.
“We have a problem in this country. Some leaders have no vision. And where there is no vision, people perish. This is why we are asking those criticising our transformation agenda to tell us their alternative plans if they are, indeed, intelligent,” President Ruto said.
The President noted that some leaders do not believe in Kenya, saying they have been mocking the plan to transform Kenya from third-world to first-world status.
“I want to ask those who don’t believe in our transformation agenda to pave the way for those who are committed to the prosperity of this great nation,” he pointed out.
He exuded confidence that the transformative initiatives in health, education, energy, housing, and infrastructure, among other sectors, will pull the country out from third to first.-world status.