MP Bwire to Uhuru: If you must correct Ruto, do it privately

Taveta MP John Bwire speaking in Wajir South constituency during an economic empowerment event organised by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, September 27, 2025. /SCREENGRAB

Taveta MP John Bwire has expressed concern over remarks made by former President Uhuru Kenyatta about his successor William Ruto, saying such public criticism could diminish the stature of a statesman.

Speaking on Saturday, the Wiper MP said he felt it was unhelpful for the former head of state to use the Jubilee Party National Delegates Conference (NDC) at Ngong Racecourse to question the Kenya Kwanza administration’s policy direction and its handling of Jubilee-era programmes.

“I say this with a lot of heaviness. We have seen many former presidents; when Kibaki retired, he never publicly attacked other leaders. Our brother Uhuru Kenyatta, you have a moral obligation to respect the office of the President. If you have advice for the President, don’t give it on open platforms. You know where to find William Ruto, sit down with him and talk,” Bwire said.

His remarks came a day after Uhuru delivered a speech criticising some government policies and claiming that key initiatives from his administration had been reversed.

He said that flagship projects like Linda Mama had been replaced by “untested experiments” that, in his view, were hurting Kenyans.

“Today, many of the gains of the past have been eroded. Linda Mama and others have been replaced by new, untried and untested schemes. While we wait for these experiments to work, Kenyans suffer, and our progress is dragged,” Uhuru told delegates.

The former president also alleged that state security agencies had been used against citizens, particularly during the Gen Z-led anti-government protests.

“This machine that we built was not meant to face the citizens. It was not supposed to be a source of fear and conflict with our citizens. Ilikuwa ya kulinda wananchi sio kuumiza,” Uhuru said.

He further criticised what he described as too much rhetoric at the expense of service delivery.

“As we continue to dwell in rhetoric rather than progress, we repeat the mistakes of the past. Some of the truths we spoke of and some of the myths have become the nightmares that many are living with,” he said.

Uhuru, who once shared a political ticket with Ruto before a widely reported fallout, urged the current leadership to listen to young voices instead of suppressing them through security crackdowns.

He said he has been watching events closely and admires what he called the “tribeless generation of our time.”

"It is my hope today that some of us give way so that the young ones with courage on the streets can use it to transform our country. You have the energy to get it,” he added.

Uhuru closed his remarks with a note that his comments were intended as constructive advice.

“Wale wanataka kuendelea na matusi hiyo ni shauri yao … Sisi hatuna chuki na mtu, tunapenda nchi yetu,” Uhuru said to applause from party delegates.

Bwire, however, maintained that any differences between the two leaders would be better addressed privately.

“We are humbly asking our brother Uhuru to respect the office of William Ruto,” he said.

Bwire had accompanied the Deputy President to Wajir South constituency for an economic empowerment rally.