Kathiani MP Robert Mbui has accused President William Ruto of using his recent visit to Ukambani as a political rally rather than a development tour.
Speaking on Tuesday, November 18, Mbui stated that the president's conduct was similar to a campaign trail, despite holding the highest office in the land.
"President William Ruto's Ukambani tour was a political campaign trip. Unfortunately, our president is very well known for politics. Remember, he was on the campaign trail from 2017 up to 2022. He hasn't changed. I thought that once he ascends to the office of President, he would remain in his office and probably try and figure out how to support the citizens," he said.
Mbui also condemned the nature of the activities conducted during the tour, noting that while the president launched various projects, the overall focus shifted to insults and political posturing.
He argued that this approach left the community feeling sidelined.
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"He was out there on a campaign trail, spent all that time, you know, launching a bridge, launching transformers, launching all sorts of things. But unfortunately, what we were left with is the insults hurled at us as leaders of that region.
"By just doing that, he has completely sidelined that community. That community is annoyed and very disappointed in the tour, because what we thought was a development tour ended up being a campaign tour and ended up also being an insults competition," he added.
Mbui further expressed concern over comments allegedly made by the president that demeaned local leaders, insisting that such remarks do more harm than good.
"He did indicate that we, the leaders from that community, have no brains. I don't know who is advising the president when he's going out to do these things, because he would have achieved much more had he kept off the politics and the excessive promises," he further said.
Mbui concluded by warning that such political missteps may have consequences for the president in the next election cycle.
"Personally, I was very unhappy. When you insult the elected leaders from the community, in essence, the people you're insulting are those that vote for them. I think he's just insulted the whole community and 2027 is around the corner. He's going to get payback," he stated.
This comes days after Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka criticised the government after finding no ongoing construction works at the newly launched Emali-Matiliku Road in Makueni County.
In a statement on Friday, November 14, Kalonzo said he was surprised to find the site deserted, noting that heavy machinery that had been displayed during the launch was no longer present.
"Visited the Emali-Matiliku road, which was launched just two days ago by President William Ruto. Shockingly, all the big machinery is gone, and no work has begun," he said.
Kalonzo argued that the situation reflects a recurring national challenge where infrastructure projects are unveiled with publicity but stall shortly afterward.
"This pattern repeats itself across the country, a regime more interested in grand launches and photo opportunities than in actual progress. Projects are announced with fanfare, but the people are left waiting for real work to happen," he added.
