President William Ruto hosted more than 17,000 United Democratic Alliance grassroots leaders at Sagana State Lodge, using the gathering to reinforce party unity and defend his administration’s economic record as public frustration over the cost of living continues to grow.
The leaders, drawn from Nyeri County and recently elected as polling centre officials, were told that UDA was being built into a permanent national political force capable of sustaining government policy beyond a single election cycle.
“We are building the United Democratic Alliance into a truly mass national political party,” Ruto said. “One that will carry the national agenda forward with continuity and unity of purpose.”
Nearly three years into his presidency, Ruto has increasingly leaned on party structures as his government faces criticism over new taxes, high food and fuel prices, and unemployment, particularly among young people. While the President said his administration had remained faithful to its 2022 manifesto, critics argue the economic benefits promised under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda have yet to be felt by ordinary households.
“In the last three years, we have remained faithful to our party manifesto and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda,” Ruto said, citing investments in infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, industrialisation and job creation.
The Sagana meeting comes at a time when the government is under pressure to demonstrate tangible economic gains. Recent tax measures and reduced subsidies have increased the cost of basic goods, triggering public anger and sporadic protests. Civil society organisations have accused the administration of prioritising political consolidation over easing the burden on citizens.
“This is a government that is organising politically while people are struggling to survive,” said a Nairobi-based civil society leader. “The focus should be on lowering the cost of living, not building party machinery.”
The choice of Nyeri County underscored the political stakes. Mount Kenya, a region that delivered a decisive vote for Ruto in 2022, has shown signs of restlessness amid economic strain and shifting political alliances. Analysts say mobilising polling centre officials is a strategy aimed at reinforcing loyalty at the grassroots level ahead of the 2027 General Election.
"We remain committed to pushing forward with our plan to transform Kenya into a first-world economy through strategic investment in infrastructure, development of human capital, quality healthcare, agricultural production, industrialisation, and jobs for our young people," Ruto said.
Political analysts note that Ruto has long relied on disciplined party organisation to maintain control, often bypassing elite power brokers in favour of grassroots networks. However, they warn that strong party structures alone may not shield the government from public discontent driven by economic hardship.
