Sakaja Defends President Ruto Amid Criticism Over Unmet Promises
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has come to the defense of President William Ruto, urging Kenyans to show patience with his leadership amidst growing public frustration over unmet promises. Speaking during a church service in Soweto on Sunday, Sakaja emphasized that the challenges facing the country have been decades in the making, and it is unreasonable to expect rapid change in just two years of Ruto’s presidency.
Sakaja pointed to longstanding infrastructure issues as an example, recalling a conversation he had in Murang’a where locals expressed frustration over the delayed construction of May May Road. He noted that the road, which has been in disrepair for over sixty years, remained neglected under previous administrations, and it would be unfair to expect Ruto to fix it within his first two years in office. “The first president was in power for 14 years, the second for 24 years, and the third for 10 years — yet the road was still not done. In just two years, can we honestly say that Ruto should have solved a 60-year-old problem?” Sakaja asked.
The governor urged Kenyans to exercise patience and allow the president more time to deliver on his ambitious promises, noting that progress is already underway. “There is an aroma of good work happening. We need to give him time. You have only been president for two years. Roads like the Yjika Road took five years to build, and the expressway came in the ninth year,” Sakaja said.
In response to growing public concern over his administration’s reforms, President Ruto, who also attended the service, expressed confidence that his government would bring about transformative change. “By the grace of God, this country is not going to remain the same. I have no doubt that Kenya is going to change. We will deliver food security, universal healthcare, and affordable housing,” President Ruto declared.
Sakaja also took the opportunity to propose a development project for the Jacaranda Grounds, a 32-acre plot in Nairobi. He urged Ruto to consider constructing a sports stadium on the site, which he believes could boost the socio-economic activities of the surrounding community. “A stadium does not cost much. On Dandora, we spent only Ksh 270 million, and here you have more land. We can also build a school. I know you can do it,” Sakaja suggested.
Sakaja’s comments come at a time when Ruto’s government is facing mounting criticism over rising living costs and unmet promises. However, both the governor and the president remain optimistic about the future, urging Kenyans to stay hopeful and allow time for the government’s reforms to take root.
By Jamila Nasenya
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