Speaking during a nationwide listening tour, Matiang’i said Kenyans are frustrated by rising corruption and broken promises.
“Leadership by example is the strongest weapon against corruption,” Matiang’i told reporters. “You cannot have the moral authority to tell people to stop doing what you do every day.
If the ruling elite are corrupt, then corruption becomes a permanent battle.” His remarks were widely interpreted as a direct call-out of President Ruto and his inner circle.
Matiang’i, who has previously served in government and at the World Bank, described his campaign as a process of understanding ordinary Kenyans’ needs.
He said overwhelming public sentiment reveals dissatisfaction with the current administration, especially over economic hardships, poor social services, and over-taxation.
The aspirant also dismissed the government’s claims of a rapid development agenda. “The idea of a ‘road to Singapore’ is a joke,” he said, arguing that such narratives are political theatrics aimed at misleading the public.
Online reactions to Matiang’i’s comments were swift. One user wrote, “Finally someone is calling out Ruto and his government’s hypocrisy.” Another tweeted, “Matiang’i speaks the truth, corruption has eaten this government alive.”
Some critics, however, accused him of politicking, saying, “He’s just using Ruto as a punching bag to gain popularity.”
Observers note that Matiang’i’s statements come at a time when public dissatisfaction with Ruto’s leadership is growing.
His direct criticism of the president, combined with calls for accountability, signals that anti-corruption and transparency will be central issues in the upcoming 2027 elections.
As of now, President Ruto has not responded to Matiang’i’s accusations, leaving Kenyans to debate the claims and the future of governance under the current administration.