Kioni slams opposition and government over ‘petty politics’ – The Standard

Jeremiah Kioni, Secretary-General of the Jubilee Party, has publicly rebuked both the ruling administration and the opposition for engaging in what he describes as petty politics that sideline real national issues. Speaking during an interview on Spice FM, Kioni accused the opposition of reducing political conversation to slogans, name-calling and personality attacks, rather than presenting concrete solutions for Kenya’s problems.
Kioni also placed sharp criticism on the government led by William Ruto, alleging double-standards in the fight against corruption and in policy implementation. He pointed out that while some senior figures allegedly receive lenient treatment, broader societal issues like education drop-outs and healthcare roll-backs are being overlooked. For example, he cited claims that more than 700,000 students dropped out after the most recent national exams and that the scaling back of maternal health programmes such as the Linda Mama scheme is hurting vulnerable women.
He contrasted this with the borrowing record of the previous administration, asserting that earlier debt had translated into visible infrastructure, unlike current borrowing whose returns he questioned.
The remarks come at a politically sensitive moment ahead of Kenya’s next election cycle in 2027, with shifting alliances and internal party calculations underway. Kioni’s position signals Jubilee’s attempt to re-assert relevance in a landscape dominated by larger coalitions, while also positioning the party as a critic of both current governance and the opposition’s tactics. His warnings suggest that if political actors continue on the path of surface‐level posturing rather than addressing issues such as unemployment, insecurity and public service erosion, the electorate may grow further disenchanted.