President William Ruto has brushed off attempts to revive the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition, declaring that the opposition alliance won’t threaten his re-election bid in 2027.
Speaking on Sunday after he officially opened the Africa Inland Church (AIC) Pipeline in Embakasi, Nairobi County, Ruto told the Opposition to prepare for a tough contest in the next general election.
“I am asking the people I am competing with to prepare well. We understand this politics so well,” he stated.
Ruto dismissed renewed efforts to reorganize Azimio, arguing that the coalition carries no political weight without its former key affiliate, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
“Now I hear they are reviving Azimio. We will beat Azimio so early in the morning in 2022,” he said.
“Let me ask you, isn’t Azimio without ODM dead on arrival? Isn’t that true?” he posed.
Ruto also praised Nairobi County leaders for their continued display of unity.
The president acknowledged the cooperation and togetherness that Nairobi’s political leadership and residents have shown, noting that such unity reflects the spirit the country needs to promote national cohesion and drive transformation.
He observed that Nairobi has the potential to lead the way in bringing the nation together so that leaders can focus on key development priorities.
Ruto also assured leaders in the city, including the governor and Members of the County Assembly, that the national government remains committed to supporting Nairobi County and its residents.
“Na mimi nasema asante sana kwa viongozi wa Nairobi city. I can see the unity; I can see the coming together of the leaders and of the people of Nairobi. hio umoja ya watu wananchi wa Nairobi County ndio umoja tunataka iwe kwa taifa la Kenya. Nairobi is going to lead the way in bringing the nation together,” Ruto said.
He pointed out that he had held consultative meetings with the governor and MCAs, where they agreed on several priority issues aimed at improving the city’s operations beyond election cycles, which he described as temporary events.
Among the major resolutions was a plan to make Nairobi more accessible and efficient by improving mobility and transport infrastructure.
The president has tasked each MCA with identifying a priority critical road within their ward to help open up the city and ease movement. He expressed readiness to allocate resources toward developing these roads to ensure residents enjoy easier transportation.
