Ruto issued the challenge on Monday, September 14, 2026, while addressing residents in Muhoroni, Kisumu County, during the second day of his four-day development tour of the Nyanza region.
The President said the 2027 election should focus on competing ideas and programmes rather than personalities, political slogans and insults.
“Kenyans will shock you, my friends. This election, we have raised the bar of the context of leadership in Kenya,” Ruto said.
“It is not about personalities. It is about the people of Kenya. It is not about empty rhetoric, slogans, and titles. It is about an agenda, a plan, a mechanism of changing the lives of the people of Kenya,” he added.
Ruto challenges rivals to bring policies
Ruto said the broad-based government was prepared to defend its record and compete against its opponents based on policies and development plans.
“As Broadbased, we are ready. We have our ideas. We have our plan. We have an agenda. We have a program. We have a vision, as Broadbased,” he said.
He challenged political rivals to come forward with alternative proposals instead of relying on slogans, including calls for a one-term presidency.
“We want to invite our counterparts, our colleagues, kujeni na agenda yenu,” Ruto said.
“Msituambie mambo ya kasongo. Msituambie mambo ya one-term. Msituambie mambo ya sijui kasongo. Tafuteni sera, my friends.”
The President then issued a pointed warning to his political opponents, saying the election should be fought on the basis of policies rather than personal attacks and political rhetoric.
“One-term tumesikia. Matusi tumesikia. Fitina tumesikia. Tafuteni sera tushindane,” he said.
“Kama hamna sera, tutawamalizia asubuhi na mapema, my friends,” Ruto warned.
The President’s remarks come as political parties and emerging alliances intensify their mobilisation ahead of the 2027 General Election, with the contest increasingly taking shape around competing political coalitions and competing visions for the country.
Ruto's continued emphasis on the broad-based government signals his intention to campaign on its record and development agenda, while challenging opposition leaders to offer Kenyans alternative policies ahead of the election.
