By John Mutiso
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has hit back at President William Ruto following sharp remarks by the Head of State over an unconstructed road leading to Kalonzo’s home area in Tseikuru, Kitui County.
Speaking on Monday, December 15, Kalonzo accused President Ruto of turning a church service into a political platform, saying he was unfairly singled out instead of the President focusing on worship.
“President William Ruto was in Kiambu, and instead of going to worship, he made me a subject and attacked me,” Kalonzo said.
The former Vice President also disputed Ruto’s assertion that he has been in leadership for 50 years, dismissing it as a basic arithmetic error.
“He claimed that where I come from there is no road, yet I have been in leadership for 50 years. He cannot even do the maths — it is 40 years, not 50. That means 40 years of serious experience,” Kalonzo said.
Kalonzo further defended his development record, insisting that the Tseikuru road project was initiated during his tenure in government. He said that while serving as Vice President, he personally launched the construction of the road with a Chinese contractor.
“When I was Vice President, I launched the construction of the road with a contractor named Sinohydro. I want Ruto to deny,” he stated.
According to Kalonzo, the road forms part of a major regional corridor linking Kibwezi, Mutomo, Kitui, Mwingi, Tseikuru and Maua, ultimately connecting Ethiopia to the Port of Mombasa.
“Sinohydro is a Chinese contractor whom I commissioned to construct the road from Kibwezi–Mutomo–Kitui–Mwingi–Tseikuru–Maua, and this road connects Ethiopia with Mombasa,” he said.
However, Kalonzo did not clarify whether the road project was completed or the stage it currently stands at.
The exchange comes a day after President Ruto sharply criticised Kalonzo during a church service in Kiambu County on Sunday, December 15, accusing the Wiper leader of being a naysayer and leading opposition against his development agenda.
Ruto questioned Kalonzo’s development credentials, arguing that despite holding influential positions in successive governments, he failed to deliver basic infrastructure in his own backyard.
“There are those saying we can’t achieve all that I have announced. I want to tell them that they are the ones who can’t achieve anything. They have no plan,” Ruto said.
“It would be unreasonable to wait for someone who has never developed his rural road. The road leading to his home is dusty and muddy, and he has been in power for decades. If he can’t develop his rural road, where will he get the smartness to plan development for Kenya?” the President added.
The public exchange underscores the growing political rivalry between the two leaders as the country edges closer to the 2027 General Election, with both camps sharpening their rhetoric over development, leadership record, and national vision.
