President William Ruto has dismissed opposition criticism of his development record, saying his critics are instead giving his government free publicity by highlighting the projects it is implementing.
Ruto said opposition leaders were drawing attention to roads and other projects being undertaken by his administration as he defended his development record during his Coast tour.
“Those criticising me are proving that I have implemented many projects and, by doing so, they are advertising them for free,” Ruto said.
The President spoke in Wundanyi, Taita Taveta County, on Saturday as he began his development tour of the Coast region.
He dismissed claims that his government was only taking development projects to areas associated with him politically, saying roads and other projects would be implemented across the country.
“Opposition is saying Ruto is building roads for them. It is true, I will build all the roads and God is helping me,” he said.
Ruto said he would continue implementing his development agenda despite criticism, arguing that he had a responsibility to fulfil his promises before the end of his first term.
The President also promised to address longstanding land ownership problems in Taita Taveta, where thousands of residents have lived as squatters on ancestral land.
He said the government would issue 20,000 title deeds in the county this week.
“We should not continue living as squatters on the land of our ancestors,” Ruto said.
The titles form part of a wider plan to distribute nearly 200,000 title deeds across six Coast counties during his ongoing tour.
Ruto also inspected roads in Wundanyi and expressed concern over the condition of one of the roads, promising government intervention.
His remarks came amid increased political exchanges between the President and opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The opposition has criticised various government projects and policies, while Ruto has increasingly used his development record as part of his political message ahead of the next election.
The President’s Coast tour will take him through Taita Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa, Tana River and Lamu counties, where he is expected to launch and inspect development projects.
