Kioni Warns Opposition Against Insults, Says Ruto Could Be Benefiting Politically

Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Jeremiah Kioni has urged opposition leaders to abandon personal attacks against President William Ruto, arguing that insults are unlikely to win them votes ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking during an interview on Radio Generation, the former Ndaragwa MP criticised what he described as strategic mistakes within the United Opposition, saying leaders should focus on issues that resonate with voters rather than internal accusations and name-calling.

Kioni warned that the opposition’s approach could inadvertently strengthen Ruto’s political position instead of advancing its goal of unseating him.

Kioni Questions Opposition Press Conferences

Kioni took issue with opposition press conferences that focus on accusations of betrayal and claims that certain individuals are political moles.

He questioned how such announcements help opposition parties attract supporters or communicate their agenda to Kenyans.

“You will hear that the best news that somebody can give when he calls a press conference is to say so and so is a mole. How does that help you get more votes? How does that advance your agenda of fighting President William Ruto?” he asked.

The Jubilee deputy party leader argued that name-calling had increasingly become a feature of opposition politics, taking attention away from substantive discussions about governance, public concerns and alternative policies.

He maintained that opposition leaders needed to communicate a clear message capable of persuading voters to support their political ambitions.

Kioni Says Ruto Has Become Immune to Insults

Kioni also pointed to what he described as Ruto’s restrained response to years of public criticism, arguing that the President had not routinely pursued legal action against critics.

“Unlike many of us, he has never sued anybody for defamation. He’s never taken a blogger to the police station. You know the way bloggers are flogged to police station because they have inserted you in the social media. He’s never,” Kioni said.

He suggested that the President’s response to criticism should prompt opposition leaders to reconsider whether personal attacks were an effective political strategy.

According to Kioni, repeatedly insulting Ruto would not necessarily weaken his support among voters and could instead work to his advantage.

“There is no amount of insulting William that is going to help you win the votes. He’s already immune and he has demonstrated it from day one… You must be very careful when you are dealing with him. Because it could be his currency. It could be his strategy to win against us,” he said.

Kioni Calls for a Clear Opposition Strategy

Kioni urged opposition politicians to redirect their efforts towards identifying the issues that matter most to Kenyans and presenting credible alternatives to the current administration.

He argued that opposition leaders should prioritise developing a persuasive political agenda rather than concentrating on disputes and attacks against the President.

“Can we, as leaders in the opposition, concentrate more on what are the issues that we should be saying and doing that will help us win the government? And concentrate less on the issues that help the incumbent become more dominant,” he said.

His remarks come as opposition leaders continue positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election, with questions surrounding unity, political alliances and the strategy for challenging Ruto’s re-election bid.