CS Ruku slams Opposition over ‘tribal division’ as he leads relief efforts in Kisauni

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has accused the Opposition of fueling ethnic divisions and offering no tangible solutions to the country’s pressing challenges.

Speaking during a government relief exercise in Mwakirunge, Kisauni, Mombasa County on Thursday, CS Ruku said Opposition leaders were hiding behind tribal rhetoric after failing to deliver while in power.

“They had their time in power and they failed to serve the people. Now they hide behind tribal alliances instead of offering real solutions. Kenyans want development, not division,” said Ruku.

The CS urged residents of Kisauni and the wider Coast region to support President William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza administration, citing ongoing infrastructure revivals and new development initiatives as evidence of the government’s commitment to uplifting marginalized areas.

Ruku was speaking during a large-scale relief distribution organized through the State Department for Special Programmes under the Huduma Smart Serikalini initiative — the government’s latest push to deliver people-centered public services across the country.

Hosted by Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohammed and Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba, the CS supervised the distribution of food and essential household supplies to vulnerable mothers and children affected by persistent food insecurity.

“What we are doing here is the embodiment of a government that listens, responds, and restores hope. We are integrating immediate relief with long-term solutions, linking food assistance today with skills training and economic inclusion tomorrow,” Ruku said.

Residents welcomed the outreach, describing it as a much-needed show of concern from government.
“For a long time, we felt forgotten. Today, we have seen that the government knows our struggle and cares,” one local resident told Citizen Digital.

CS Ruku emphasized that the Huduma Smart Serikalini initiative represents a shift in how public service is delivered — one rooted in compassion, efficiency, and the values of the Constitution.

“This is the new face of service: not just policy, but presence. Not just promises, but action,” he said, calling on civil servants to embrace a new culture of governance grounded in empathy and responsiveness, as outlined in Chapter 232 of the Constitution.

The Cabinet Secretary also addressed longstanding land issues in the region, promising to work with local leaders and the Ministry of Lands to resolve disputes.

The Huduma Smart Serikalini programme aims to modernize service delivery and increase the visibility of government in marginalized communities. It also seeks to enhance equitable access to essential support programmes for vulnerable groups including the elderly, persons with disabilities, orphans, and the food insecure.