By ANDANJE WAKHUNGU
April 5, 2026| A section of leaders has come to the defense of President William Ruto against what they termed an onslaught by the united opposition, cautioning critics to respect the head of state.
Speaking during a Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) fundraiser in Butali Chegulo Ward, Malava constituency, the leaders—led by Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Higher Education PS Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, Parliamentary Affairs PS Aurelia Rono, and Members of Parliament Fred Ikana (Shinyalu), Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani), and David Ndakwa (Malava)—blasted former President Uhuru Kenyatta for allegedly leading the ongoing war against Ruto.
Setting the tone, area MCA Kevin Mahelo, who is aspiring for the Kakamega County senatorial seat, took sides with the president, terming his oppressors “guilty as charged.” Mahelo urged locals to support his senatorial bid.
Ruto walking ‘China way’
The host, Cooperative University of Kenya Vice Chancellor Dr. Bernard Chitunga, said President Ruto commands great respect from world leaders, including China, from which he has derived his infrastructure development blueprint.
“Ruto is walking the China way in terms of infrastructure development. He should be supported to transform the country,” Chitunga said.
He termed verbal attacks and political plots to unseat Ruto as witch-hunt, crafted to derail national unity. Chitunga further argued that if the US president and other global leaders recognize Ruto, local critics should do the same.
PS Omollo: Rivalry born of envy
Interior PS Raymond Omollo said the church plays a vital role in education, health, and spiritual empowerment. He attributed the current political rivalry to envy from leaders upset that the president has equalized development across the country.
Omollo noted that 100,000 teachers have been employed in less than three years, and 30 million Kenyans are registered and enjoying Social Health Authority (SHA) services. He added that newly gazetted administrative units have been operationalized and will soon be fully staffed.
He applauded the Western region for supporting the broad-based government and insisted on backing the president’s bid for a second term.
‘Personal vendetta’
Higher Education PS Beatrice Inyangala described Ruto as a globally accepted leader who deserves respect, rubbishing the war against him as a personal vendetta by disgruntled individuals “cut to size politically.”
Parliamentary Affairs PS Aurelia Rono called on Kenyans to practice patriotism, noting that the government remains committed to delivering on its five pillars: agriculture, universal health coverage, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), among others.
Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali, who chairs the Kakamega MPs caucus, defended the Infrastructure Funds Bill as the best development agenda for the country, likening it to China’s successful model.
Attack on Uhuru, Gachagua
Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana rubbished recent utterances by former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, whom he accused of plotting to unseat Ruto through unorthodox means and inciting Central Kenya residents ahead of the 2027 election.
“Why are the two so bitter with the current government to the extent of wanting Ruto to serve only one term?” Ikana wondered.
He reminded Uhuru that Ruto supported his presidential bid for ten years, adding: “For decades, even the Interior PS position Omollo holds was reserved for Central Kenya—from Karanja Kibicho to Francis Kimemia to Mutea Iringo. Today we condemn the spirit of hate and tribalism. Kenya is too big to be led by only one tribe.”
During the event, Ksh 3.4 million was raised for construction of a new SDA church, with PS Omollo donating Ksh 1 million, Ouma Oluga Ksh 500,000, and PSs Inyangala and Rono giving Ksh 100,000 each.