By Our Reporter
INTERNATIONAL/POLITICS
Kenya’s Deputy President, William Ruto has taken a swipe at his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta for endorsing Raila Odinga for the Presidency.
Ruto who was addressing supporters in Western Kenya yesterday 6th February 2022 said President Uhuru should focus on his retirement and stop imposing ODM’s Odinga on Kenyans.
Kenya is going for general elections on 9 August 2022. Voters will elect the President, members of the National Assembly and Senate, county governors and members of the 47 county assemblies.
The Presidential race is majorly between William Ruto and Opposition Leader, Raila Odinga whom President Uhuru has decided to back.
The fallout between Ruto and his boss started at the time Uhuru made the famous Handshake deal with Odinga.
Meanwhile, Odinga’s political machine is due to be announced on the 26th February, 2022 after the twin two day National conventions by both ODM and Jubilee Parties.
Oka is said to officially team up with Raila’s Azimio la Umoja movement after days of behind the scenes meetings steered by President Uhuru. UIhuru having fallen out with his Deputy is keen on crafting a formidable force that will devastate Ruto at the ballot and maintain his legacy.
In August last year, President Uhuru told the media that their fallout resulted from Ruto criticising the very government he serves.
According to President Uhuru, the DP has been focusing on his presidential ambitions, something he says is his constitutional right, and at the same time sabotaging his agenda to the people of Kenya.
“I have no idea what really transpired apart from the fact that he is trying to create a base for his political future which is his constitutional right and I have never denied him that. He is free to do that. But I think it is unfortunate that the manner in which he is doing it, I mean by going against the same government he is serving, I think it is wrong,” he said.
President Uhuru further added that the BBI issue could have contributed to his sour relationship with the DP.
He noted that the DP was seemingly opposed to his Handshake deal and bid to unite the country by bringing opposition leaders on board.
According to the President, his unity bid is similar to what happened between him and DP Ruto in the build-up to the 2012 General Elections.
“The issues we have been trying to solve with this BBI are the same issues that brought him and me together. So if I want to now expand that, because it has always been my agenda since 2013 to unite the people, it becomes a problem. If the divisions of 2007 brought two of us together, what is the problem if we now bring everyone on board.?” he posed.
He added that his unity bid does not place the DP’s presidential bid in trouble given that it is not him who votes but the people of Kenya.
“Doing that does not spoil his presidential chances because it is not Uhuru who elects; it is the people of Kenya. What is the problem when we bring everyone on board so that everyone feels that regardless of whoever wins, no one has lost?” he asked.
