Jubilee Deputy Party Leader and Kajiado North Member of Parliament Joseph Manje has taken a swipe at President William Ruto’s leadership, accusing the Head of State of pursuing misplaced priorities in the implementation of government-funded projects.
Speaking during a local radio interview on Monday, February 9, 2026, Manje argued that the Kenya Kwanza administration has focused on launching new initiatives that closely mirror projects started under the Jubilee government, rather than building on existing frameworks.
According to the legislator, President Ruto missed an opportunity to strengthen governance by improving and scaling up successful programmes initiated during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure. Manje maintained that continuity, rather than replacement, would have yielded better results for wananchi.
“If you take the funds that he is coming up with, like the Nyota Fund and all that, do you know that before he came to power there was Uwezo Fund, which was doing very well?” Manje posed. “What he could have done is to improve on that and add more capital to it.”
The MP noted that constantly rebranding or introducing parallel funds creates confusion, weakens institutional memory, and slows down impact on the ground. He insisted that consolidating existing programmes would have helped form a stronger, more efficient government focused on service delivery rather than political branding.
Manje’s remarks add to growing criticism from opposition and Jubilee-linked leaders who argue that the current administration is more focused on optics than long-term economic planning. The comments also come amid heightened political debate over youth and women empowerment funds, including their effectiveness and sustainability.
As the country edges closer to the 2027 General Election, such critiques are expected to intensify, with leaders increasingly scrutinising President Ruto’s development agenda and its alignment with Kenya’s economic realities.
