Why Kenya’s 2027 presidential election race is sliding from policy to body-shaming politics
Kenya’s early manoeuvring for the 2027 presidential race is taking an increasingly personal tone, with President William Ruto and his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua trading remarks that have been described as amounting to body shaming.
The feud between the two leaders, once close allies, has been deepening since their political fallout and is now spilling into public rallies as both camps position themselves for the next election cycle.
On Sunday, Gachagua, who has declared he wants to block Ruto from winning a second term, mocked the President’s appearance while speaking to supporters. In the remarks, he suggested Ruto had become noticeably thinner and implied the President’s wealth was not legitimate.
Ruto responded on Tuesday with a blunt attack of his own, telling critics to “go to the gym” and accusing them of overeating, with remarks aimed at opponents that were widely interpreted as personal insults rather than political rebuttal.
The exchange has drawn concern among observers that Kenya’s political discourse is sliding further away from policy debates into ridicule and personality-driven attacks, well ahead of the official campaign period.
The country’s general elections are scheduled to be held by August 2027. Voters will elect the president, and members of the National Assembly and Senate.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
