Speaking during his development tour of the Gusii region on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Ruto dismissed attempts by opposition leaders to form a united political alliance, insisting that he would eventually leave the political arena together with his political rivals.
“I am the same age as these leaders, and I want to assure Kenya’s young people that I will bring all of them together, including Mr 40 (Kalonzo) and Mr Texas (Gachagua), and take them with me. We will all leave politics in 2032,” Ruto declared.
The remarks were widely interpreted as a response to the growing political cooperation between Gachagua and Kalonzo, who have been holding consultations with other opposition leaders as they explore the possibility of forming a united political alliance to challenge Ruto in the next presidential election.However, the President’s statement remains a political declaration and does not amount to a formal agreement among the three leaders to retire from active politics in 2032.
Ruto’s comments come at a time when opposition leaders are engaged in discussions over coalition-building, leadership arrangements and the identification of a possible presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election.
On November 8, 2026, Gachagua, Kalonzo and Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang’i held consultations as opposition figures sought to address internal disagreements over the coalition’s leadership structure and the inclusion of different political formations.
The talks highlighted the challenges facing opposition leaders as they attempt to bring together their respective political support bases and establish a common platform to compete against the incumbent President.Meanwhile, Ruto faces an emerging political alliance whose strength will depend on the leaders involved, their cooperation and their ability to mobilise supporters across different regions.
The year 2032 has increasingly featured in political discussions because it comes after the next two presidential election cycles, bringing questions about succession and the future of established political figures into focus.
Ruto’s declaration has also sparked discussion about how political leaders intend to navigate life beyond elective positions and whether they will continue influencing national politics through political parties, close allies or preferred successors.
Nevertheless, there has been no indication that either Gachagua or Kalonzo has accepted Ruto’s prediction that the three leaders will leave active politics together in 2032.The President made the statement while undertaking a four-day development tour of Kisii and Nyamira counties, where he launched and inspected various infrastructure projects.On Tuesday, he presided over the launch of the upgrading of the 22.1-kilometre Kenyoro SDA–Riana Market and Kerina–Mwata roads in Bonchari Constituency, Kisii County.
Ruto also announced a KSh22 billion allocation towards road construction and rehabilitation projects across the two counties. Additionally, he launched a KSh1.7 billion Last Mile Connectivity programme expected to extend electricity access to another 25,000 households.The initiatives are aimed at improving rural road networks, expanding electricity connectivity and creating better opportunities for businesses and local communities.With the 2027 General Election drawing closer, development promises, opposition coalition negotiations and long-term succession plans are expected to remain prominent issues in Kenya’s political discussions.
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