President William Ruto has urged leaders in the broad-based government to unite and secure victory in the 2027 General Election, arguing that retaining power is necessary to sustain his administration’s development agenda.
Speaking during a broad-based government leaders’ retreat in Naivasha, Nakuru County, on Monday, Ruto told members of Parliament, senators, governors, Cabinet Secretaries and party leaders that the political formation had a responsibility to steer Kenya towards long-term economic transformation.
The Naivasha meeting brings together elected leaders supporting the broad-based administration, with discussions expected to focus on government performance, future priorities and preparations for the 2027 election.
The gathering is also aimed at strengthening cooperation between President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA)-led Kenya Kwanza and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which joined the administration following the 2024 political crisis.
The origins of the broad-based government can be traced to the nationwide protests of 2024, which followed public opposition to the Finance Bill 2024.
Ruto dismissed his Cabinet in July 2024 and said he would consult political formations and other sectors on forming a broad-based government.
He later called on leaders across political affiliations to support efforts to unite the country and accelerate development.
The cooperation between Kenya Kwanza and ODM was subsequently formalised through a joint framework signed by Ruto and the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in March 2025.
The 10-point framework focused on national unity, inclusivity, devolution, economic challenges, youth employment, integrity in leadership, corruption, public resources, peaceful assembly and constitutionalism.
The Head of State maintained that the political formation now represented one of the largest gatherings of leaders in the country and that its members had a responsibility to protect Kenya’s future.
President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki shake hands during a Joint Broad-Based Coalition Parliamentary Group meeting in Naivasha, Nakuru County on August 10, 2026. PHOTOS/PCS
“Destiny has chosen that we are the team that will see our nation unlock the potential that has always been in our country, and I am very, very confident about the future of Kenya. I am very, very confident about the future of this nation. Listen, fellow leaders. We have what it takes,” he said.
The President explained the team could transform Kenya into a first-world country over the next two decades if it maintained focus and momentum.
“This team has what it takes to take this country in the next 20-25 years to a first-world country. Beyond any reasonable doubt, that if we keep the focus, if we keep the momentum, nothing—I say nothing—will stop us from being a first-world country,” he said.
Ruto pledged to work with leaders across the broad-based administration, saying the experience of senior politicians and the energy of younger leaders would be important in delivering the government’s agenda.
“I promise that I will lead from the front. I promise that I will partner with each and every one of you. We will learn from the wisdom of the understanding of many leaders here, the energy of the young people in our midst here, and there are many. And together, we are going to make Kenya proud,” he said.
The President then turned his attention to the 2027 election, urging the leaders to remain united and campaign for a victory that he said would serve the interests of the country rather than individual politicians.
“And for your information, this last word I must tell you: the next election, we must win by God's grace. By God's grace, we must win the next election, not for your sake, for the sake of Kenya, because the alternative is difficult to fathom,” Ruto said.
He warned that losing power could jeopardise the development agenda pursued by his administration, describing an opposition without a clear plan, policy or vision as a danger to the country.
The retreat therefore comes at a critical stage, with the 2027 election approaching and the broad-based partnership facing the challenge of converting its political cooperation into a shared electoral strategy.
The President also sought to reassure members that political coalitions were not new in Kenya, pointing to previous alliances including Kenya Kwanza and Azimio.
The meeting is expected to provide a platform for the leaders to assess the administration’s record, identify outstanding challenges, coordinate policy priorities and strengthen unity within the broad-based formation ahead of the next election.
Ruto urged the leaders to accommodate their political differences and work collectively, insisting that the country’s future depended on their ability to remain united.