President William Ruto has sharply criticised former Chief Justice David Maraga for suggesting Kenya is a “failed state,” saying such a view disqualifies him from any future leadership aspirations.

Speaking during the Talanta bell-ringing event at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Ruto questioned how someone could seek to lead a country they openly condemn.

“I listen a lot to what people say about our country,” Ruto said. “I listened to one gentleman who retired the other day after working for fifty years, and he wants to be president. I listen to him say Kenya is a failed state. I ask myself if he has been working in a failed state for 40 years.”

In a direct jab, the President continued: “You want us to trust you with the leadership of a country you don’t believe in and to a people you don’t believe in.”

Though Ruto did not mention Maraga by name, the reference was unmistakable. The former Chief Justice recently criticised the government’s handling of national affairs, a statement that has struck a nerve amid a politically volatile season.

The President’s comments come as his administration faces increasing criticism from the opposition, civil society groups, and a disillusioned public. Protests, sparked by anger over tax hikes and economic hardship, have spread across major cities in recent weeks.

Opposition leaders have seized on the discontent to push for what some call a "citizens' movement," with slogans like “Ruto Must Go” gaining traction on the streets and online.

Ruto, however, dismissed the chants as empty rhetoric.

“Every leader must eventually leave office. That’s not in question,” he said. “But if all you have are slogans and no serious alternative policies, then what are you offering Kenyans?”

He defended his government’s reforms in health, education, housing, and the economy, insisting that tough decisions are necessary to fix broken systems. He accused his critics of wanting to preserve outdated models that failed to serve the country.

“They want to take us back to the old NHIF, which never worked,” Ruto said. “They want to return to university funding systems that collapsed under their own weight. That’s not leadership — that’s nostalgia.”

Ruto’s statements reflect a growing tension as early signs of 2027 succession politics begin to surface. While the next election is two years away, the national conversation is already shifting, fuelled by economic anxiety and increasing calls for accountability.

Still, political observers warn that the country needs more than finger-pointing.

“If Kenya is to move forward,” one analyst noted, “both government and opposition must move beyond blame and present a credible, shared vision for the future.”

For now, the war of words continues — a sign that the road to 2027 may be even rougher than the last.