Former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana has a straightforward message for President William Ruto: quit listing what you’ve done as president because in 2027, voters will check the actual results themselves and decide if you stay or go.
Kibwana, a respected constitutional scholar and one-time opposition figure, shared his thoughts during a recent appearance on Citizen TV’s Day Break show. He put it plainly – no need to keep tallying achievements on every platform.
Come election time, Kenyans will look at roads built, jobs created, prices stabilised, or whatever else matters in daily life. Those real outcomes will settle whether Ruto gets another five years or heads back to private life.
The advice comes at a point when the president’s team often highlights ongoing projects like affordable housing, road upgrades, and the bottom-up economic model.
Ruto himself frequently points to these in rallies and social media posts, framing them as proof his government delivers. Kibwana suggests that approach might backfire. People get tired of hearing the same list, he implies. Better to stay quiet on the PR front and pour energy into making things happen on the ground.
This isn’t Kibwana’s first time weighing in on leadership and accountability. He ran for president in 2022 under the Wiper banner before stepping aside in coalitions.
Now out of active politics but still vocal, he speaks as someone who knows both governing and campaigning. His words carry weight because he once led a county through tough financial times and pushed devolution reforms. When he talks about track records speaking for themselves, many listen.
Online, the clip from Citizen TV spread fast. Posts on X and Facebook shared the quote, with some users nodding in agreement. One popular reply said voters already feel the pinch from high living costs and job shortages – fancy speeches won’t change that.
Others defended the president, arguing he has to counter opposition attacks by showing progress. A few joked that if results spoke loud enough, no one would need microphones anymore.
The timing feels pointed. Recent by-elections showed mixed signals for the ruling side, with wins in some spots but tighter races elsewhere. Analysts say those outcomes hint at what 2027 could look like if economic pressures don’t ease.
Kibwana’s comment feeds into that bigger conversation: performance over promises. He extended the idea to the opposition too – don’t just criticise; show what you’d do differently. In the end, he said, citizens judge everyone by what gets done or left undone while holding power.
Ruto’s camp hasn’t responded directly yet. Government spokespeople keep emphasising delivery on pledges like universal health coverage tweaks and infrastructure pushes.
The president often says his focus stays on work, not noise, though critics accuse him of too much self-promotion. Kibwana’s simple line – focus on doing the work and let your results speak – cuts through that debate like a reminder from an elder.
Whether Ruto takes the advice or doubles down on highlighting milestones remains to be seen. With over a year until nominations heat up, plenty of time exists for results to build – or for complaints to grow louder.
