Speaking during a public engagement, the President said leadership should be about ideas and solutions, not endless political plotting.
“I see the other guys have planned a seminar and retreats to plan for a candidate,” Ruto said. “I want to tell them to get plans for policies instead.”
His remarks were met with cheers from supporters, many of whom agree that politics in Kenya often revolves around personalities rather than issues that affect ordinary people.
The President said Kenyans are tired of politics that begins and ends with elections.
According to him, the country needs leaders who are focused on solving problems such as unemployment, high cost of living, food security, and access to affordable healthcare.
He said that while others are busy planning political alliances and power-sharing deals, his administration is concentrating on delivering development.
Ruto defended his government’s record, saying that policies under his leadership are already showing results.
He pointed to ongoing projects in agriculture, housing, infrastructure, and social protection as examples of what issue-based leadership looks like.
He said these initiatives are meant to uplift ordinary Kenyans, especially those at the grassroots.
The President also warned that early campaigns and constant political meetings distract leaders from their responsibilities.
He said Kenya cannot afford to be in campaign mode all the time when citizens are struggling to make ends meet.
In his view, serious leaders should be asking how to create jobs, grow the economy, and improve public services, not who will sit where in the next government.
Ruto urged opposition leaders to present alternative policies if they believe they can do better. He said criticism is welcome in a democracy, but it should be backed by clear ideas and workable plans.
“Tell us what you would do differently,” he said, adding that shouting slogans without solutions does not help the country move forward.
Political analysts say the President’s remarks are part of a wider push to brand his leadership as policy-driven, in contrast to opponents he portrays as stuck in old-style politics.
They note that by challenging rivals to focus on policies, Ruto is appealing to Kenyans who are frustrated by endless political drama.