Video: Ruto mocks Kalonzo for "embarrasing" himself on TV interview
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- President William Ruto publicly ridiculed Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka at a Machakos rally on Saturday, August 23, 2025
- Kalonzo had declared in a TV interview that scrapping SHA would be his first act as president, but struggled when pressed on the legal framework backing the scheme
- Ruto also accused opposition figures of being sponsored by former president Uhuru Kenyatta to undermine his administration's key programmes
President William Ruto launched a sharp public attack on Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, accusing him of lacking alternatives for Kenyans in his pursuit for the presidency.
Ruto mocked him over a pledge to dismantle the Social Health Authority (SHA) and accusing the opposition of acting on instructions from former president Uhuru Kenyatta.
Speaking at a rally in Machakos Saturday, August 22, Ruto described a recent television interview in which Kalonzo stated that abolishing SHA would be the first thing he would do if elected president.
When interviewers pressed Kalonzo on how he planned to repeal the laws underpinning the health scheme, the Wiper leader visibly struggled to give a coherent response.
Ruto called him out for what he suggested was embarrasment on national television.
"He was asked what is the first thing he would do if he became the president. He said, "I would scrap SHA." He was asked, "Do you realize SHA is backed by law? How exactly do you intend to repeal those five laws?" He started fumbling for an answer. Even if you've been sent, even if you've agreed to be a puppet or a stooge, at least come up with some plausible reasons so you appear intelligent," Ruto told the crowd.
Ruto Questions Opposition's Alternatives
The president challenged Kalonzo to present an alternative to SHA, which the government rolled out in October 2024 as a replacement for the long-standing National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Ruto argued that simply calling for the scheme's abolition without proposing a substitute exposed a fundamental weakness in the opposition's position.
"He has no alternative, no argument, yet he's been sent to do this. No matter how much you've been paid, have some self-respect, man. Find some decent reasons so you look like you have a brain," Ruto said.
Ruto extended his criticism to another unnamed opposition figure who had reportedly vowed to scrap the government's housing levy and shut down the affordable housing programme.
"Even if you've been paid, hired, or orchestrated by others to say you'll halt the housing project, what about the 1.1 million young people working on housing, markets, and hostels? Where will you send them?" he asked.
Ruto Accuses Uhuru of Sponsoring Opposition
Beyond the policy debate, Ruto suggested that the opposition's attacks on SHA, housing, and other flagship programmes were being orchestrated by Uhuru.
He suggested that his predecessor harbours envy over the current administration's progress in universal health coverage, education, and housing.
"Those people are really out of their depth, man," Ruto added, rounding off his remarks with a dismissal of what he portrayed as politically motivated criticism lacking substance or workable alternatives.
Kalonzo, who has been positioning himself as a key opposition candidate ahead of the 2027 General Election, has made reversing several of Ruto's economic policies a central plank of his political platform.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.