KISUMU, Kenya — Oburu Oginga has defended William Ruto against criticism over his recent public remarks targeting opposition leaders, dismissing claims that the president’s responses are unpresidential.
Speaking during Idd-ul-Fitr celebrations at Kisumu State Lodge on Friday, Oginga said the head of state had endured prolonged criticism before choosing to respond.
“Mr. President, I know you have been abused for a long time, and you kept quiet. I didn’t know you were keeping those responses somewhere. Now you have released them, and people are crying,” said Oburu.
“But I don’t understand, when you are being attacked, it is considered normal, even sweet to some. But when you respond, when you release your arsenal, they say it is unpresidential. How can it be unpresidential to defend yourself?”
His remarks come amid growing scrutiny of political rhetoric in Kenya, with religious leaders and civil society groups urging restraint as tensions rise ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Oginga also voiced support for the government’s development agenda, highlighting the proposed Infrastructure Fund and the planned extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Kisumu and onward to Malaba as key drivers of economic growth.
He criticised the previous administration for failing to deliver similar projects, despite attempts to secure financing, and praised the current government for unlocking stalled initiatives.
“This Infrastructure Fund is for the whole of Kenya, and I am sure it is going to do wonders. This Fund, together with the push for electricity, is what is required here,” he said.
“The previous government was defeated. They tried to negotiate loans, they tried to do everything to bring these developments, but they failed because they had no idea what to do.”
He added: “But within a very short time, you (Ruto) have found what to do. You have given direction, and that direction is now going to see the railway, the SGR — come to Kisumu, extend to Malaba, and connect us with other countries. That is the way to go to Singapore.”
Oginga, a senior figure in the Orange Democratic Movement, also stressed the importance of political alignment with the government for regional development, urging Nyanza residents to support the current administration.
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“You cannot go to Singapore when you don’t have power, and yet we are sitting here with power. How can I leave that and go looking for shareholders, people who are dividing this country into shareholding?” he posed.
Meanwhile, political tensions continue to escalate between President Ruto and his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, with both sides trading accusations in recent days.
While the president has accused opposition leaders of focusing on personality politics instead of development, Gachagua, now leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), has alleged irregularities in state tenders, claims the government has consistently denied.
Analysts warn that the intensifying war of words risks deepening political divisions and shifting focus away from governance priorities, as calls grow for leaders to moderate their tone in public discourse.
