By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, May 28, 2026 - President William Ruto on Thursday sought to calm growing political anxiety ahead of the 2027 General Election, insisting the country will hold peaceful, free and fair polls regardless of mounting political tensions.
Speaking during this year’s National Prayer Breakfast at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Ruto dismissed fears of instability and warned leaders against attempts to divide the country along political lines.
“We are going to have elections next year and they will be peaceful and there will be no violence and they will be free and fair,” Ruto said.
“Because what God has decided, no man can change. So relax. People are in a panic, I don’t know why.”
In remarks that appeared aimed at both his critics and supporters, the President said his political future was ultimately in God’s hands and not determined by political schemes or media narratives.
“If God decides that Ruto will get a second term, he will. If God has decided otherwise, that is what will happen, and we will move on as a country,” he said.
“So, relax. There is no problem.”
The Head of State further lashed out at politicians he accused of attempting to polarise Kenyans for political gain, saying such efforts would collapse.
“Those who believe they will divide this country, they will not. They will not succeed. They will fail and fail spectacularly,” he declared.
Ruto also pushed back against what he termed persistent negativity surrounding the state of the country, saying Kenya remained stable and destined for prosperity despite criticism from sections of the media and political class.
“I had a conversation with a journalist and he told me that negative headlines do sell newspapers but positive headlines do not sell newspapers,” he said.
“This country will never go in the wrong direction. It doesn’t matter how many headlines say that we are a failed State. Kenya is not and will never be a failed State.”
The President said the country possessed the leadership, resources and resilience needed to overcome current economic challenges.
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“I am persuaded beyond any reasonable doubt that indeed our country is a great nation. We have the duty and the responsibility to make it great, and we will and we shall,” he said.
At the same time, Ruto announced fresh tax relief measures targeting low-income earners, saying the government would soon table proposals in Parliament to exempt workers earning below Sh30,000 from paying Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax.
“The Executive will take a proposal to Parliament to ensure that all low-income earners, the people who earn up to Sh24,000 who have been paying PAYE up to 10 per cent, will not pay anymore,” he said.
“We are saying, in fact, that category should be moved to anybody who is earning below Sh30,000. They will not pay any taxes.”
He said the move was part of broader efforts by the government to ease the burden on ordinary Kenyans while pursuing alternative ways of financing development.
Ruto also addressed the country’s fuel supply challenges, revealing that the government plans to establish an oil refinery in Kenya this year as part of a long-term strategy to stabilise energy supply in the region.
“On the crisis of fuel in the country, we not only have a short-term plan but also a long-term plan on how to handle it,” he said.
“We have found a mechanism on how to get our fuel in Turkana and those in the rest of the region to be refined here in our region.”
The President acknowledged resistance from international oil producers but insisted Kenya would proceed with the ambitious project.
“Of course there are some resistance from oil producers on this project but we have to make those tough decisions that will transform our country,” he said.
“Sometimes, we have to forego temporary convenience for long-term transformation. That is how we are going to build this nation.”
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