President William Ruto defended his remarks against the opposition at an Eid-Ul-Fitr luncheon in Kisumu State Lodge on March 20, 2026. He vowed to address tribalists and announced major development projects. The speech followed calls for a fresh inquest into a blogger's death.
President William Ruto addressed criticism from the United Opposition and parts of the public over his recent viral remarks during the Eid-Ul-Fitr luncheon at Kisumu State Lodge on Friday, March 20, 2026. “There is nothing unpresidential about what I said. I only told them to watch their weight; I have not abused anyone. I emphasised that we should focus on policies, which they did not listen to, and I want to warn them, this is just the beginning,” Ruto said. “Do not mind them; I will deal with them. I will deal with the tribalists and hate mongers. They have insulted and abused me for two years consecutively. So if I respond, they now spin narratives that I body-shamed them,” he added. Ruto said he would continue his messages until issues such as past killings, bodies found in River Yala, and disinheritance of widows are addressed. The remarks coincide with the family of late blogger Maureen Githaiga Kinyua writing to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on March 19, 2026, demanding a fresh inquest into her death in 2019. The letter outlined six reasons, including that she was lured to Mataga by a female friend linked to a senior political figure from the Mount Kenya region, the boda boda had no visible damage, a penetration wound in her forehead was not noted in autopsy, her phone disappeared, and the politician's wife visited the scene. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has denied involvement, describing it as an accident near Sagana Catholic Church on May 24, 2019. At the same event, Ruto approved a Railway City in Kisumu, Ksh950 million for Moi Stadium upgrade to 10,000-seater by December, Ksh400 million for Kisumu County Referral Hospital, Ksh500 million for Usenge Pier, and 10 fish landing sites across lake region counties.
