Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has declared that President William Ruto should serve only one term, citing dissatisfaction with his leadership and governance style.
The senator, speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Wednesday evening, said his stance is motivated by concern for the country rather than political rivalry.
Onyonka, who previously led the Tanga Tanga team in Kisii in support of Ruto, said he no longer backs the president for re-election.
“We are not saying one term because it’s music, we are saying one term because we believe President Ruto has refused to listen to us and listen to people around him who make sense,” he said. “Everything he is doing is just to make sure that the country is run like a Ponzi scheme.”
The senator criticized the president’s handling of national issues, pointing to security failures and widespread corruption.
“I have worked with President Ruto. At one time, I was defending him. But if your president was in charge of a country where 300 kids are killed, every single transaction that this government conducts is just a cesspool of corruption,” Onyonka stated.
He emphasized that his criticism is based on performance, not personal animosity. “I will never hate President Ruto; I just think he has been an inept President; he has performed below par,” he said.
Onyonka argued that governance is not about promising actions but delivering results.
“He believes that governance is about telling people what you can do, but it’s not. It’s doing it and people identifying what you have done,” he explained.
Onyonka’s statements underline growing frustration among some former allies who feel sidelined and disillusioned by Ruto’s leadership.
By publicly opposing a second term for Ruto, Onyonka adds a prominent voice to debates on accountability, corruption, and the effectiveness of governance in the current administration.
His remarks signal a shift in loyalty among leaders who once supported the president but now question his capacity to lead the nation effectively.