“Retire quietly’ and leave Raila to me, Ruto tells Uhuru in his turf

Deputy President William Ruto addressing a rally in Gatundu,  Kiambu County. [Fidelis Kabunyi, Standard]

Deputy President William Ruto yesterday took the August 9 battle for State House to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Kiambu County and asked his boss to retire quietly.

The DP asked Gatundu South residents to request the President not to drum up support for ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Mr Odinga has been nominated by Azimio la Umoja to be the coalition’s presiential candidate and the President has been campaigning for him.

Mr Ruto made his first stop in Mutomo near Mr Kenyatta’s ancestral home where he urged residents to ask Mr Kenyatta to sit out the August 9 contest.

“I send you as neighbours of my friend President Kenyatta. Please tell him not to use the very knife I used to support him to cut my legs by supporting Raila Odinga,” he said.

“Tell him this is the Ruto that Mama Ngina prayed for together with him and even if he doesn’t want to assist me, let him stay out of the presidential contest and allow me to floor this the man slowly.”

He also addressed rallies in Kiamwangi, Kiganjo, Munyuini, and Gatundu towns and Gathaite and Gakoe in Gatundu North, where he said he was best placed to complete the President’s legacy projects.

“We promised you railway, roads, and plan for the education of our children which we did in the first term before Raila came into government and scuttled the Big Four agenda. The only remaining issue is how to secure jobs for millions of youth,” he told the gathering.

Dr Ruto was accompanied by among others Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi, Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula, MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Alice Wahome (Kandara), and Patrick Wainaina (Thika).

Mr Mudavadi said he and Mr Wetang’ula respect the President but oppose his support for Mr Odinga.

“We are surprised as to why he decided to support Raila,” he said.

“We tried to carry that man’s burden in 2013 and 2017 but it was too heavy for us to endure. We wonder President Uhuru will manage now that he is in charge of his campaigns,” Mr Mudavadi said.

Dr Ruto said since 60 per cent of Kenya’s economy relies on agriculture, he will set aside enough funds for the sector if elected president.