Kenya Kwanza Alliance led by Deputy President William Ruto addressing residents of Dondori in Bahati Constituency on March 19, 2022. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]
Deputy President William Ruto has sustained his call on President Uhuru Kenyatta to keep off succession politics.
After losing the backing of his boss, Ruto now wants Uhuru to grant him a fairground to battle out with political archrival ODM leader Raila Odinga. Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza brigade yesterday took their campaigns to Bahati, Nakuru County where his speeches portrayed a frustrated man after missing out on Uhuru’s blessings.
“You (Uhuru) are my friend. All I want is you to get out of my way for me to battle with Raila. When am aiming at Raila, I find Uhuru in my way and I have nothing against him,” said Ruto.
READ MORE
Church leaders boldly criticise State over unpopular policies
Experts' report questions Ruto's bottom-up model amid hardships
Kenyans demand unity as political leaders foment ethnic tensions
He took issue with Raila accusing him of orchestrating his being arraigned at the International Criminal Court (ICC) alongside President Uhuru in the aftermath of 2007 post-election violence.
“I stood with Uhuru since 2013. Raila was behind Uhuru and I being taken to ICC. The President has now decided to get someone else to succeed him. This is the greatest contempt,” said Ruto.
Ruto, however, maintained his confidence of a win in August polls against Raila, now banking on the support of voters whom he termed as independent-minded and committed to change.
“Raila is not new to us. He is the same person who lost to Presidents Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta. What is left now is for me to load him in a wheelbarrow and take him to Bondo (Raila’s rural home),” he said.
The ‘hustler’ team promised better days ahead for Kenyans should it carry the day in the forthcoming polls on health and agricultural sectors as well as reducing the skyrocketing cost of living. ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi continued with the onslaught on the handshake saying that it was the genesis of the challenges being faced by Kenyans today.
“When Uhuru found new friendship with Raila he forgot that he needed to control the country which included pricing of goods. Money that would have subsidised fertilizer and foodstuffs was spent on matters that were not a priority,” said Mudavadi.
He urged Kenyans not to vote for Raila noting that he would sustain the unfriendly policies initiated by the Jubilee administration.
“Vote for a president who will have his hands on the steering wheel. If you vote for Raila, he will run this country under the directives of a few individuals,” said Mudavadi.
