Gloves off as Uhuru hits out at Ruto, accusing him of abdicating

President Uhuru Kenyatta makes his speech after touring the Chaani Outreach Medical Center in Mombasa County on February 7, 2022. [PSCU, Standard]

It is now time for politics and you are going to hear from us, President Uhuru Kenyatta has declared, sending a clear warning shot that he is keen to influence his succession.

Although the venue and event were not set for politics, the President used the launch of Universal Health Care coverage at Port Reiz Hospital, Mombasa yesterday, to hit out at Deputy President William Ruto and announce that he was now joining the political fray.

Uhuru said that Ruto has been doing nothing but talk ill of him.

The Head of State who has since embraced his erstwhile political foe turned ally, ODM leader Raila Odinga, said Jubilee Party was looking for political partners it can work together with to unite the country.  

“Sasa kipindi cha siasa kimefika na mtatusikia. Kuna wakati wa kazi na wakati wa siasa, sasa kila mtu ako na uhuru; wale ambao walitangulia na wale ambao tunaingia, (Now the time for politicking is here, you will hear from us. There is time to work and time to play politics; now everyone is free, those who started before and those of us who are joining the fray),” he told a gathering at the coastal town.

Speaking in Kiswahili, Uhuru said that he was not rooting for anyone in the political scene but will vote and even convince people to support those who will pay attention to him. In the recent past, he has been seen as leaning towards supporting Raila. His Jubilee Party has already indicated that it would join ODM in a coalition whose flagbearer is expected to be ODM’s Raila Odinga.

“Hii ni marathon, na mimi sina project ya mtu lakini nitaangalia kura yangu niweke kwa mtu ambaye nitaamini na kama mtu mmoja ama wawili wataniskiza nitawaambia mimi ombi langu ni hivi, (This is a marathon. I don’t have a (political) project, but i will see where to put my vote for someone I trust and if there is one or two people who will listen to me, I will put across my request),” he said.

Kalonzo Musyoka and his co-principals in the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) have indicated a willingness to work with Raila and ruled out any possibility of co-operation with Ruto.

Yesterday, Uhuru accused Ruto of abandoning government work to campaign from atop his vehicle.

“Work is not done from the top of vehicles while campaigning but through inspecting projects in hospitals and offices like we have been doing,” the President said in an apparent broadside at his deputy who has been carrying out nationwide campaigns ahead of the official campaign period.

Uhuru said that he wants people who will work, listen and support him after he retires. He faulted Ruto for saying the government was not working yet he has been taking credit for some infrastructure projects.

“They keep saying there is no work being done. They keep telling me the Jubilee Party is dead. I understand I sought for votes to work for Kenyans. Jubilee has been working and you can witness from the infrastructure projects like Ndongo Kundu bypass,” he said, and added that he had no problem with anyone’s political ambitions.

“I won’t tire to campaign for Jubilee and tell them to vote for Jubilee and as we partner and work with the likes of Joho,” he said.

Joho is ODM’s Deputy Party leader. He had initially expressed interest in the party’s ticket for the presidency but withdrew in favour of Raila.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho during a past event in Kisauni. [File, Standard]

The Head of State dismissed reports that the ODM leader was his project even as he maintained that he has a right to choose whoever he will vote for.

“He is not my project as it is being said, but I will cast my vote to the person that I trust will bring change to Kenya,” he said.

Cotu secretary Francis Atwoli also hit out at Ruto, saying the Deputy President was unlikely to become the next president.

He urged Uhuru to work and champion for Azimio la Umoja to deliver victory on August 9.

“Uhuru will remain a spokesman,” said Atwoli, hinting at a political role for Uhuru after the election.

He also criticised ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi for joining forces with Ruto. According to him, Mudavadi needs prayers.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho said he had no time for the politics of Kenya Kwanza Alliance - the alliance fronted by Ruto, Mudavadi and Senator Moses Wetang’ula.

According to him, the 2018 handshake between Raila and Uhuru has seen the locals benefit a lot. Joho said, for instance, that the Coast General Hospital had made great strides since 2013 and can now perfom major surgeries and attend to cancer patients.

“We used to fight and trade words before handshake but after a sit down things have changed for the better and the locals have benefited,” said Joho.

“You can’t value something until it affects you. When I was voted in 2013 I knew how the health sector was then and how it has changed now. We know where we came from and now where we are.”

The president is expected to open a new regional cancer radiology unit referral unit at the hospital today.

President Uhuru Kenyatta tours the Chaani Outreach Medical Center. February 7, 2022. [PSCU, Standard]

On the Universal Health Care programme launched yesterday, Uhuru said it would bring down the cost of medical services as it would, among other things, compel private hospital to reduce their charges.

The programme will be offered in partnership with the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), with members only required to pay Sh6,000 per year. Yesterday, Uhuru said it would also be linked to Huduma Number.

The programme was initially piloted in four counties and yesterday marked its nation-wide roll-out, which comes as NHIF moves to digitise its records.

Earlier in the day, President Uhuru spoke at the Health Workforce Curriculum Conference, also held in Mombasa.

The International Conference on Harmonisation of Curriculum and Training of Health Professionals attracted coutries across the globe including a delegation from the United States US, United Kingdom UK, Switzerland, Netherlands, South Korea, India, Seychelles, South Africa, Egypt, Zimbambwe, Nigeria Liberia, Tanzania Rwanda and Uganda.

The President said equipping hospitals with modern equipment and well trained medical professionals will save the public a lot of money spent on medical expenses.

He asked nations to support the cross-border training and practice.