Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has dismissed claims that Edwin Sifuna poses a significant challenge to President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Ruku said that although Sifuna’s national profile has grown in recent months, the Nairobi senator has not yet built the political structures or grassroots networks required to mount a credible presidential campaign.
“Sifuna has not reached the threshold of being a potential threat to any serious political players like President William Ruto,” Ruku said.
He argued that winning a presidential election requires years of building political institutions and support systems across the country, adding that popularity alone is not enough.
“To run a national campaign you have to institutionalise a number of things, which take time to happen,” he said.
Ruku noted that a successful presidential campaign must extend beyond large rallies in major towns and reach voters at the grassroots level.
“When running a nationwide campaign, you are not doing it just in major towns. The last-mile campaign is where the rubber meets the road,” he said.
He explained that instead of focusing only on urban centres such as Nakuru City, candidates must also campaign in areas including Rongai, Gilgil and Naivasha to build county-wide support.
The Cabinet Secretary maintained that President Ruto remains well ahead of his potential challengers, pointing to opinion polls that he said place the Head of State in the lead.
“Sifuna is not a threat at all and looking at the polls shows Ruto is leading,” he said.
Ruku nevertheless acknowledged Sifuna’s recent rise in popularity, claiming the senator was polling ahead of opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka and Fred Matiang’i.
“Sifuna is coming ahead of Kalonzo Musyoka and Fred Matiang’i, which is impressive,” he said.
However, he predicted that Sifuna’s support would eventually level off.
“But I do not anticipate he will be able to go beyond 15 per cent approval, and remember Ruto has not rolled out his campaign machinery,” he said.
According to Ruku, the President is currently focused on delivering his administration’s development agenda rather than campaigning for re-election.
“Ruto is currently busy concentrating on programmes to transform the nation. Ruto is still not a candidate, but a time is coming when he will be the UDA candidate and you will see the ratings changing,” he said.
Ruku added that the President’s development record would play a key role in his re-election bid, particularly in the Mt Kenya region.
“Ruto has a very clear record and that is why I am saying Mt Kenya will not come out of this government,” he said.
