Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has stepped up his criticism of President William Ruto, accusing the Kenya Kwanza administration of wasting four years in office and failing to live up to the promises that won it power in 2022.
Gachagua's attack has opened a fresh front in the political battle over Ruto's record, drawing in other government critics, including Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and former Chief Justice David Maraga, as the race to build a formidable opposition against the President gathers pace.
“President William Ruto has wasted four years. The promises we made to Kenyans have not been fulfilled, and the people must now ask themselves whether their lives are better than they were in 2022,” Gachagua said.
The former Deputy President, once Ruto's closest political ally, said the government should be judged by what it promised Kenyans during the 2022 campaign and what it has delivered four years later.
He pointed to the high cost of living, heavy taxation and growing frustration among Kenyans as evidence that the administration had lost touch with the people who voted it into office.
Gachagua's remarks have added to an increasingly coordinated opposition narrative that Ruto's first term should be put under scrutiny as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.
Sifuna has been equally sharp in his criticism of the government, repeatedly accusing Kenya Kwanza of failing to address the concerns of ordinary Kenyans.
The Nairobi Senator has argued that leaders should stop selling Kenyans grand visions while ignoring the struggles they face every day, from unemployment and taxation to the rising cost of basic commodities.
“The question is not about what you are promising us in 2040 or 2050. Tell us what you have done with the mandate we gave you,” Sifuna has said in his criticism of the government.
Maraga, who has declared his interest in the presidency, has also challenged Kenyans to judge Ruto's administration based on their own experiences.
“Are you better off today than you were when William Ruto took office? Look at your table. Look at your payslip, if you still have one. Look at your children's school fees. Look at the price of unga, fuel, and everything that keeps a family alive,” Maraga said.
The former Chief Justice's question has become part of the wider argument being advanced by Ruto's critics: that the government must answer for the gap between its campaign promises and the reality facing many households.
But the President's allies have dismissed the criticism, arguing that Ruto inherited a difficult economy and has had to make tough decisions to stabilise it.
They maintain that the administration's economic policies should not be judged only by the immediate pain they have caused, but also by whether they lay the foundation for long-term recovery.
Ruto's supporters have also accused the opposition of conveniently ignoring government investments and reforms while exploiting public frustration for political gain.
They insist the President will have a record to defend when he seeks re-election in 2027.
