Oburu defends Ruto's nationwide tours, says they are driving development, not early campaigns

ODM leader Oburu Oginga. He has dismissed claims of weak leadership in the party, rejected the “Ruto must go” slogan, and warned members against internal dissent and indiscipline. (Photo: X/The ODM Party)

By Rachael Mutabasi
Sunday, June 14, 2026

The ODM leader defended President William Ruto's frequent nationwide tours as a development mission, dismissing claims of early campaigning and backing the government's economic policies.

ODM party leader Oburu Oginga has strongly defended President William Ruto's frequent tours across the country, dismissing criticism that the visits amount to early campaigning. Instead, he described them as part of a development-driven mission aimed at accelerating the country's growth.

Speaking during a church service at Nkarusha Seventh Day Adventist Church in Kajiado County on Sunday, Oburu praised Ruto's work ethic, saying he had never seen a Kenyan president maintain such a demanding schedule outside an election period.

"I have lived in this country for more than 80 years, and I can tell you that the type of energy you have, moving all over the country, jumping up and down, I have never seen any president doing that since I was born," Oburu said.

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The veteran politician also defended the government's economic policies, particularly its reliance on domestic financing to fund development projects and bridge budget deficits. He argued that all countries operate with fiscal deficits, and that the critical issue is how those deficits are financed.

According to Oburu, Kenya should increasingly depend on locally mobilised resources rather than external borrowing, which often comes with costly obligations.

He further backed initiatives such as the Housing Levy and other infrastructure financing mechanisms, saying they are helping generate the resources needed to drive development while reducing the country's dependence on foreign lenders.

Oburu maintained that sustained engagement with citizens and continued investment in development projects remain essential to achieving Kenya's long-term economic transformation goals.