Opposition has nothing to offer, DP Ruto tells Meru

MERU: Deputy President William Ruto has castigated the Opposition for their perennial agitation to put Kenyans in an endless election mood.

Mr Ruto said the opposition’s clamour for political power cannot succeed, because leaders are chosen by God.

He said the ruling Jubilee coalition is busy fulfilling its mandate and has no time to engage with an Opposition that cannot see the great milestones Kenya has made.

“They have a warped mentality. They cannot see anything good happening. They have no idea what Kenya needs and where Kenyans want to go. Leaders are God-given and elections only identify those who He has chosen,” he said when presided over a funds drive in aid of the Kenya Methodist Church, Kinoru.

He said the Opposition will not distract the Jubilee government.

“If you ask our competitors whether they have any alternatives to deliver development, they will tell you ‘let’s go for elections!’ When they lose in the elections, they will say we change the IEBC,” said Ruto Sunday in an event also attended by Senator Kiraitu Murungi and Governor Peter Munya.

He said the Jubilee projects will change the face of Kenya and improve the living standards of Kenyans.

“Things are happening. The Mombasa-Nairobi railway is ongoing. We are also building a 10,000km additional tarmac roads.

“Devolution is changing Kenya and by the end of the year, we are projecting a 7 per cent economic growth rate, as we move towards achieving double digits,” he told the congregation.

Other leaders at the function included Imenti North MP Rahim Dawood, Mpuru Aburi (Tigania East), Stephen Manoti (Bobasi), David Were (Matungu) Njenga Kigo (Gatundu North), Joseph Eruaki (Igembe North), Mithika Linturi (Igembe South) and Woman Representative Florence Kajuju.

Interestingly, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, who clashed with Governor Munya on Saturday, was missing.

The two leaders clashed openly in front of Ruto at a thanksgiving-cum fundraiser event organised by Ms Kajuju, at Consolata Primary School, over the recent Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) graft list.

Mr Kuria fired the first salvo, saying leaders in the EACC list must step aside to pave way for investigation.

LIST OF SHAME

“President Uhuru and DP Ruto have said everybody listed must step aside to face justice, irrespective of their positions. I agree with Aden Duale (National Assembly majority leader) when he says the funds are not their...” Mr Kuria said, as he completed in his mother tongue.

But when he rose to speak, Mr Munya trashed Kuria and termed him a nominated MP.

“That list does not worry me. We have fought bigger wars and won. You have your cases on hate speech. You should lead others by stepping aside,” Munya told Kuria, who was seated a row behind him.

“You know what you have been saying on the internet. For me to step aside there has to be proof, because the law says unless I have been convicted I cannot step aside,” Munya said.

He said he read politics in the inclusion of his name in EACC list.

“I follow the Constitution. Unless I am convicted, everything else is politics,” Munya said.

Mr Linturi and Mr Kiraitu came to Munya’s defence. “I am the one who put Munya’s name in EACC list. I know how I will get him out,” said Linturi, and said stepping aside is not based on the Constitution.

Ruto had led more than 10 MPs in the event, where he drummed support for the Jubilee coalition.

Ruto said he was relying on Meru voters for support in his own presidential ambitions.

“I want to be friends with Meru. Moi, Kibaki and Uhuru made friends here. It is the same style I am following. I have that ‘plot’ too,” Ruto said as he urged all coalition partners to unite under one strong party.

The DP said Kenyans must not allow to be divided by politicians who want to benefit from disunity.

“It is possible for us to do our politics without dividing Kenyans along tribal lines. President Kenyatta and I decided to pursue unity of all Kenyans. It is a continuing journey, and we want to rid Kenya of divisions,” he said.

He added: “We in URP want to join JAP. Senator Kiraitu and Governor Munya’s APK, and Mithika Linturi’s TNA, and Stephen Manoti’s Ford People, should all join JAP.”

Kiraitu said Meru leaders will strengthen their friendship with Ruto and Uhuru so as to benefit from Government projects. “The person you see here (Ruto) is the future president of Kenya,” said Kiraitu.