I’ve met Oparanya five times - DP Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto with Council of Governors Chair Wycliffe Oparanya. [Rebecca Nduku, Standard]

Deputy President William Ruto has met Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya five times to discuss politics, he told Citizen TV Thursday night.

“I have met Wycliff Oparanya probably five times. Of course, more times because he was chairman of the Council of Governors. But I have met him to discuss politics five times. At no time did we discuss him being sent by Odinga. We have discussed with him how we can work together and how he appreciates the hustler narrative and the Bottom-Up approach,” said Ruto.

The DP reiterated that the Council of County Governors (COG) was not acting at the behest of Raila Odinga.

According to the DP, the Hustler Movement and ODM are the country’s strongest political formations.

“From where I sit, the two strongest forces that we have politically, is the Hustler team and the ODM team,” said DP Ruto.

Ruto said he was ready to go it alone in the 2022 presidential race, and vowed not to resign amidst a series of meetings to kick him out of the Jubilee Party.

"I was elected. I am not going to give those seeking to push me out of this government the opportunity to celebrate. I won't resign," said Ruto.

Ruto clarified that President Uhuru Kenyatta was entitled about changing his mind in supporting him in 2022, despite pledging to in 2013.

"It was the President who said 'yangu kumi, ya Ruto kumi'. He is an adult. He can change his mind. He is entitled to changing his mind. Nonetheless, he will remain to be my friend, even if he doesn't support my presidential bid, that is if I run in 2022," said Ruto.

The DP said he only recognises former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as his main challenger in the 2022 race for State House describing him as a formidable opponent.

 He had not had discussions on a possible alliance with the ODM leader, he added.

“I see Raila Odinga as my competitor. He is the most formidable opponent I have in 2022. If Odinga will not be my competitor, who will be? I have worked with Odinga before. I understand how he operates,” said Ruto.