You'll Be One-Term President, Seth Panyako Tells William Ruto

• President William Ruto's regime has been under fire from Kenyans over the high cost of living
• The introduction of new taxes and increment of existing levies and taxes have not made things easy for Ruto's regime
• His former ally and nurses' union boss, Seth Panyako, has warned that Ruto could be a one-term president because he failed to fulfill his promises to Kenyans

Michael Ollinga is a journalist at TUKO.co.ke with over 10 years of experience covering courts and crimes, special reports, and current affairs in Kenya.

Former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) vice chairperson Seth Panyako has called out President William Ruto's regime's oppression of Kenya through excessive taxes and the high cost of living.

Kenya's one-term president

Panyako, also the Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), said that Ruto was on the verge of breaking the country's history by becoming the only president who would serve for one term.

He accused the president of disregarding the needs of Kenyans, asking him to ensure the economic situation changes lest he badly loses in the 2027 General Election.

Speaking in Trans Nzoia on Tuesday, December 12, Panyako said it would be impossible for Kenyans to give Ruto another term in office while struggling with the high cost of living.

"If the cost of living does not come down, you'll break this country's history. You'll become the country's first one-term president.

William Ruto's 2027 presidential bid

"We cannot vote for you in 2027 when we are crying of hunger, and our children are without jobs. That's not something Kenyans can accept," Panyako said.

The activist, however, expressed optimism that Ruto would be wise enough to listen to Kenyans and change the situation before things fell apart.

"I am optimistic that our president is a leader who listens to Kenyans and will address this matter in good time. We believe he will straighten crooked matters in good time," observed Panyako.

Panyako, who once served as the vice chairperson of Ruto's party, resigned in protest of the proposed 3% housing levy that the Kenya Kwanza administration was pushing for.

Seth Panyako resigns as UDA vice chairperson

He opposed the proposal, terming it unconstitutional and burdensome to Kenyans, saying he would rather be on the good side of history than please the ruling regime.

The High Court has already issued a verdict, declaring the housing levy unconstitutional and directing the government to stop the deductions imposed on employees.

The move saw Kenyans demand that the government refund the deductions it had implemented on their pay slips dating back to July 2023, when the Finance Act 2023 was enforced.