We’ll investigate Sh7 trillion loans borrowed under Uhuru, Ruto says

Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto delivers a speech after being endorsed by delegates from Kenya's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party as their presidential candidate for the August elections, at an event in Nairobi, Kenya on March 15, 2022. [Reuters, Baz Ratner]

Deputy President William Ruto yesterday accepted nomination by the United Democratic Alliance party to vie for the presidency with a speech that targeted President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

In an hour-long speech at the Kasarani Indoor Arena during the UDA National Delegates Conference, Ruto said that he still considered Uhuru a friend, but went on to hit out at the Jubilee government's performance.

Ruto, without mentioning Uhuru by name, said he had led a government that plunged Kenyans into debt, impoverished farmers, cracked down on legitimate business and weaponised State institutions.

"We want to tell our competitors we will do the complete opposite," he told the cheering delegates.

"Our competitors are the masters of monopolies, agents of conflicts of interest and State capture and we must free this country and our agriculture from brokers and cartels." 

Ruto said his government would ensure that every farmer accesses quality seeds, subsidised fertiliser, markets, competitive prices and government support so that they can feed the nation.

Digital platform

Kenya, he said, could grow its own revenue and unshackle itself from the slavery of debt. He claimed tax revenue had stagnated because of conflict of interest and the lack of a concrete plan.

He also said he would create a digital platform that would collect the 60 percent of taxes that are not collected as VAT without fighting enterprises and destroying businesses.

Ruto said that while Uhuru had asked him to give him space to create a legacy, his rapprochement with Raila had plunged the country into debt of up to Sh7 trillion since the handshake in March 2018.

"It is a tragedy that we must investigate," he said.

The DP spoke of business people whom he said were victims of a government allegedly intent on punishing businesses that held different values, even as he called on his supporters to resist State capture.

He claimed that State institutions such as the DCI, EACC, KRA were being used to run political errands.

Among those who were the victims, Ruto claimed, were legislators and his friends whose only crime was their association with him.

Ruto also sent out a message to boda boda operators a few days after a crackdown on the sector was called off, saying they were also victims because they believed things needed to change.

"Boda boda were victims of a weaponised fight against people who don't share in the belief of those who hold the levers of power today," he said.

"This country will change. On the first day, we will free the DCI, KRA, EACC from State capture. We will appoint an accounting officer for the IG and DCI so that going forward, they have financial responsibility and will never again depend on the Office of the President for them to discharge their responsibility."

The DP said August 9 would be a contest between those who want to change the Constitution and those who want to reform the economy.

Kiambu Women Rep Gathoni wa Muchomba (left) and Bishop Margaret Wanjiru during the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) National Delegates Conference (NDC) at the Kasarani Sports Complex, Nairobi, March 15, 2022 [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

August 9, he said would be a competition of ideas, where the electorate would be choosing between progress or regression into tyranny and poverty.

"The choice is as clear as day is from the night," he said.

"There are those who believe that the way to future of this country is through changing the Constitution. On our side, we believe that the way to the future of this country is by changing our economy."

Ruto's speech was often interrupted by cheers from the delegates.

He said the solution to the inclusivity question was not in amending the Constitution but reforming the economy so that it could provide more and better opportunities.

"We had this plan in 2017 but unfortunately there are forces who are against the people of Kenya, who do not want to share opportunities and believe that Kenya is their privilege and that they own this nation," said Ruto.

Ruto's speech that animated the crowd was the one he didn't read. The one he seemed to be reciting almost out of memory.

It read like a poem.

He begun every paragraph with 'Our competitors' and then went on to list some ideas of the government which he disapproved.

He said Uhuru, Raila and their allies sabotaged the Big 4 Agenda because they did not want the youth to get opportunities.

Chasing a mirage

His speech appeared to set the theme for his campaign for State House where he is running as both the anti establishment candidate and on the back of some of the Jubilee achievements.

He claimed credit for some of what the Jubilee government has done. He especially pointed out the first term.

"I want to say with clarity and certainty that if we had not lost four years chasing a mirage. If we had taken time to implement the Big 4 Agenda, then Kenya would be different from what we have today," said Ruto.

He pointed out that millions of young people were without jobs while Uhuru and Raila were intent on going to the polls so they could change the Constitution to give power to a few people 

"We are telling them we will go to the polls so that we elect leadership that is going to create opportunities for empowerment not sharing power," said Ruto.

Our competitors believe that this nation should be about a few people who wield the levers of state power, he said.

He urged his supporters not to allow the monster of BBI to return.

"They want an imperial president. A president who controls the Judiciary using the Ombudsman. They want a president who controls the legislature using appointments. They want a president who does what he or she wants merely because they have power, influence or money," said Ruto.

He said he would operationalise the Judiciary Fund in his first day in office to give the Judiciary financial independence so that they can discharge their duty.

His allies in the Kenya Kwanza coalition also hailed his nomination as the UDA presidential nominee.

The leaders of political parties ANC, Ford Kenya, The Service Party, Safina, Tujibebe Wakenya and Chama Cha Kazi said they would back the DP.

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi said they had come together to change the lives of Kenyans.

"We want food to be affordable, to restore dignity, to provide justice. We do not want one justice for the rich and not the poor," he said.

Stockholm Syndrome

Ruto, he said, had ''spoken to our hearts and to all men and women of good will in this country."

He said the partners in Kenya Kwanza needed to send a strong message that they intended to work hand-in-hand to ensure that resources would be utilised for the benefit of the people.

The ANC leader said he wanted the partners in the coalition to come up with a unified manifesto that would win the voter's hearts.

Mudavadi encouraged voters to reject 'remote controlled leaders'. "We do not want a puppet regime and we do not want puppet leaders," he said.

He said that Kenyans needed to stop thinking that the leaders who have held them hostage would be the ones who would rescue them.

"I back Ruto in saying that we need to rescue Kenyans from this Stockholm Syndrome that is making us feel that the people we have in power are hurting us and can also save us.

"We need to rescue ourselves at the ballot on August 9," Mudavadi said.

Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula said Ruto benefited from those who had set out to disgrace him.

"As we stand here today, I am sure they are in a corner of shame," Wetangula said. 

He added that Kenyans had seen that Ruto was vilified for no reason, adding that despite Raila having the support of the State, Kenya Kwanza had the support of the people.

Tujibebe Wakenya Party leader William Kabogo, an unexpected guest at the NDC, said he had urged Ruto not to wait for Uhuru's endorsement and campaign for State House by himself.

The former Kiambu governor said that Ruto was assured the vote of Mt Kenya region and that he had been moved by Ruto's speech.

"When what you have said here happens, Kenya will be in a comfortable place," Kabogo  said.

Former Agriculture CS and TSP leader Mwangi Kiunjuri said he believed in Ruto's leadership after having worked with him from 1997.

"For us to be safe in this country, we need to look for a person in whose hands we will be safe. For us to be safe, we have to look for a person who can articulate issues clearly and Kenyans can believe in them," he said.

Chama cha Kazi's Moses Kuria said he was convinced that Ruto would win.

"The last time I supported a good human being was when I supported Mwai Kibaki. I will support you because you are good for this country," he said.

Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok also congratulated Ruto and promised to walk with him.

"We want Ruto to mobilise the bottom up policy that touches on the lives of the people so we need to walk with him," said Nanok, who chairs Ruto's campaign secretariat.