President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday castigated his deputy William Ruto for taking credit for government projects he had not participated in implementing.

In a no-holds-barred attack, the President chided Ruto for spending his time moving around and addressing Kenyans from the top of his car and spreading untruths.

Speaking in Mombasa in the company of a section of governors and Cabinet Secretaries, Uhuru accused Ruto and his team of hurling insults at him but vowed to soldier on, indicating that he will be no by-stander in the August 9 General Election.  

From his statement, it was apparent that it was only a matter of time before he hits the ground to campaign for ODM leader Raila Odinga, his preferred successor who is set to face off with Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza Alliance brigade in the State House contest.

Uhuru accused Ruto of engaging in a smear campaign against the Jubilee administration while at the same time attempting to ride on government successes.

The President faulted Ruto’s approach in politics describing it as “full of empty rhetoric.”

He laughed off his deputy’s style of “working from the top of a vehicle” saying real service delivery was never accomplished through politicking but by hard work and good leadership.

“Lakini mambo ya kuongea maneno matupu huku hakuna kitu unafanya . Kazi haifanywi juu ya gari inafanywa kwa maofisi, kwa mahospitali. Nurse haendi huko kusimama kupiga mdomo ati unajua mimi leo mimi nimefanya hii na ile… anaingia kwa mahospitali, kwa wodi, anaingia theater. (Dwelling on empty politics and yet you have nothing to show is a waste of time. Real work cannot be done from the rooftop of vehicles. It is done in offices, in hospitals. A nurse cannot go saying I have done this or that. They go to the hospital and work in the wards and in theatre).”

Public rallies

The Deputy President has been widely captured in the press addressing public rallies from the top of his car during which he has accused Uhuru and Raila of “political conmanship” and claimed credit for Jubilee government projects in the energy, transport and health sectors. Emboldened by his newly-created alliance with Amani National Congress (ANC) chief Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula, Ruto has termed Raila’s candidature a “state project” that is bound to fail.

Yesterday, Uhuru said Ruto had declined to heed his call to shelve early campaigns at the start of Jubilee government’s second term and told him to brace himself for a real political test as the campaign season begins.

“I told them to stop early campaigns but they told me I have no authority to advise them on politics. I told them that if they saw that was the right thing to do they should go ahead. But they should know there is time for work and time for politics,”  he said.

He added: “This is a marathon, I have no project for anyone. Yes my vote is only one, but I can influence more others to follow the direction I feel is okay for this country.” He said some people were targeting for attack because he has proven to be a reputable leader, noting that “insults are the necklace of a leader.”

The President spoke at two separate functions in Mombasa yesterday, the first one at the opening of the Health Workers Conference 2022, on harmonisation of the curriculum and training at Whitesands Hotel and later during the launch of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Changamwe.

Attacking administration

He said he had seen “people” preaching lies at political rallies and attacking his administration in a desperate push to achieve political ambitions, but that will not change anything in his legacy.

“Jameni saa zingine wenzangu muache kujipiga… tumesonga, tumesonga. Na story ya watu kupepetapepeta huko kwa mikutano huko kuongea mauongo huko haiwezi badilisha yale yamefanyika.”  Stop chest thumping… we have moved, we have moved on. This idea of people talking in meetings and telling lies will not change what has happened,“ the President said.

Saying empty rhetoric and reckless criticism towards the government will not help develop the country, the President said: “If there are things that are not right, that is why you are here to help tell us here we can do better…”

Uhuru spoke as Ruto, Mudavadi and Wetangula sustained their attacks on him at a rally in Busia yesterday. They said Raila was a state project “that was bound to fail like in 2002”. They said they would soldier on and work as a team to ensure they emerged victorious.

“We are a team and it does not matter who will be the president, his deputy, number three or four amongst us. What is important is clinching the victory that will offer us an opportunity to transform the lives of our people, especially the poor Kenyans,” said Ruto.

The DP said they were determined to end the culture of “dynasties” in the country.

“Our country has been held hostage by a clique of people who think they can always sit in some room and decide for the millions of Kenyans. This will end on August 9,” the DP said. In Mombasa, Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) secretary general Francis Atwoli accused Ruto of attempting to outshine his boss, saying he (DP) cannot lead the country because he had assassinated his own character.

“The President will not retire and just stay at home. He will be actively involved in future planning… He cannot disappear, the President and his brother Raila Odinga in the Azimio will ensure the next government is formed,” said Atwoli.

The Cotu boos, who slammed Ruto’s team for attacking the President, asked Kenyans to pray for Mudavadi, saying he had betrayed the Head of State “who was willing to support him”.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho said the President had a forgiving heart, citing their “unfriendly” first term that caused friction between him and Uhuru. He castigated politicians opposing the government saying they don’t mean well for the Coast.

“Someone who thinks they can play with emotions of the people they should know that we are aware of their agenda,” said Joho in reference to those agitating for transfer of port operations to Naivasha and Nairobi ICD.

Joho drummed up support for Raila, saying the Coast region was solidly behind the Azimio La Umoja movement. “This is an Azimio  region and it remains so,” Joho added. Other Coast leaders among them Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and his Tana River counterpart Dhadho Godhana asked the President to solve the land issues in the region.

“The biggest problem in the Coast is the land issue, we have suffered in the hands of land grabbers, we urge the government to buy idle land and resettle our people,” said Kingi.

Likoni MP Mishi Mboko said Coast is locked in Azimio, and asked residents not to gamble with their vote, sentiments which were echoed by Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga.

“Those who have eyes can see for themselves, as women, we are the biggest beneficiaries of the UHC programme. That’s why we support your government,” said Mboko.

Mboko said the Uhuru government had done a lot for the Coast including infrastructure development, adding the region will continue to support the Head of State.

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir said since the Handshake between Uhuru and Raila the Coast had benefitted from development.

“I hear some of those who came to Mombasa during the weekend and pretended to be saints of the people, speaking about SGR, they are just pretenders,” said Nassir in reference to Ruto’s rally in Mombasa.

Nassir said in the August elections will be a decision between peace-makers and political inciters. 

“Some will go round castigating the government and at the same time praising the same government, I want to urge the people to vote wisely,” said Nassir.