Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has accused former President Uhuru Kenyatta of inciting Kenyans against the current government while defending the Kenya Kwanza administration’s reforms, describing them as expansions rather than dismantling of past programs.
Speaking at a public engagement forum in Mbeere North, Ruku challenged Uhuru’s recent criticisms, particularly over the shift from the Linda Mama free maternal health program to the broader Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme. He argued that the former president’s statements had crossed from advisory commentary into partisan politics, potentially undermining the legitimacy of the sitting government.
“What the former President is doing is not just offering advice; he is inciting Kenyans against a legitimately elected government,” Ruku said. He urged Uhuru to adopt the statesmanlike posture exemplified by former Presidents Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki, who refrained from active political engagement after leaving office.
Uhuru had earlier claimed that the government’s reforms threatened to erode key achievements of his administration, particularly the maternal health program, suggesting that the changes were untested and disruptive. Ruku refuted this, emphasizing that Linda Mama had not been abolished but integrated into the Linda Jamii program, which now extends coverage beyond mothers to entire families. “Linda Mama was not scrapped; it was expanded to cover the whole family. This is growth, not dismantling,” Ruku clarified.
In his remarks, Ruku also criticized former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for statements he said misrepresented the people of Mbeere, portraying them as dependent on handouts. He faulted Gachagua for remaining silent during debates over muguka, a critical local cash crop, arguing that political silence in such moments amounted to complicity. “When our cash crop was under threat, the former Deputy President said nothing,” Ruku stated.
Backing Ruku’s position was former Mbeere North MP Muriuki Njagagua, now a special advisor to President William Ruto. Njagagua warned that continued political involvement by Uhuru could breach the Pension Benefits Act, which limits retired presidents from participating in partisan politics. He suggested that persistent engagement could even lead to revocation of Uhuru’s retirement benefits.
The forum also provided a platform to rally support for Leonard Muriuki Wa Muthende, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate in the upcoming Mbeere North by-election. Both Ruku and Njagagua presented the ruling party as the best vehicle to sustain development and ensure continuity in local governance.
Ruku’s comments highlight the ongoing tension between Uhuru and the Kenya Kwanza government, particularly regarding how far former leaders should publicly comment on current policies. While Uhuru frames recent reforms as undermining his administration’s achievements, Ruku and his team argue that these changes are necessary for national growth and broader service coverage. The exchange underscores the delicate balance between respecting the legacy of past governments and implementing new policies for public benefit.
Image by Citizen Digital
