Ruto: Opposition leaders criticise govt because they lacks alternatives
By Mabonga Makhanu, February 2, 2026President William Ruto has told the United Opposition that they are opposing the government because they have no alternative.
While speaking during the disbursement of Nyota funds in Kisumu on Monday, February 2, 2026, the President took aim at the opposition, calling them clueless, planless, and rudderless.
He said that since they have nothing meaningful to offer the Kenyan populace as a manifesto, they have resorted to empty rhetoric and criticising initiatives that should not be opposed.
“We want to tell the radarless, the leaderless, the agendaless, the planless, ‘You are an opposition without an alternative; you are in opposition because you have no alternative; you are there because you have made it your occupation; you are there because you have no other alternative plan,’” Ruto said.
The President further stated that the opposition is not resisting the government to help Kenyans or appear as agents of change.
Rather, they oppose the state because they lack an alternative, and, having no other option, they have resorted to criticising everything they see.
United Oppositions rebrand
This comes at a time when the United Opposition, through the Wiper leader, refused to continue being called the United Opposition, claiming they have rebranded as the United Alternative Government. According to Kalonzo, they are akin to a government in waiting.
He further explained that the old name suggested passivity.
“You have to give Kenyans hope,” he said. “Kusema United Opposition, ni kama kukubali mnakaa tu hapo opposition. So, we are The United Alternative Government. That is who we are.”
The new name has started gaining traction swiftly. Kalonzo shifted from “United Opposition” in his earlier posts, such as those from January 31, 2026, discussing IEBC meetings and party conferences, to consistently using “United Alternative Government” throughout the day’s Murang’a events.
Opposition’s plan
In the past, the United Opposition has told the President—who has repeatedly referred to them as people without a plan or manifesto, relying instead on empty rhetoric—that their current focus is on how he will leave office, as they believe he is responsible for 99 per cent of the country’s problems.