I equally deserve credit for Jubilee success, says DP

Dennis Lumiti and Reuben Mwambingu

 @PeopleDailyKe

Deputy President William Ruto yesterday took a direct dig at his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta, whom he termed as a “dictator.”

Ruto claimed Uhuru wants to extend his rule through ODM party  leader and presidential aspirant in the August 9 General Election, Raila Odinga.

He said Raila, who is expected to vie for the presidency under the Azimio La Umoja movement, was “too tired to govern.”

“We are aware of schemes by some people to remain in power through the backdoor. They know Raila is too old and tired to govern,” Ruto claimed. “They have realised their time is up and are using all means to continue ruling remotely.”

He asked his boss to tone down, retire honourably “or go down when his project fails”, adding that Kenyans are “tired of a clique of individuals who think they own country”.

“August 9 will be the turning point in the history of this nation when the common mwananchi will be offered the opportunity to participate in the development of their country,” he said.

The Deputy President ppeared to be responding to Uhuru’s strong reprimand of him when the Head of State asked him to stop his hypocrisy during an address in Mombasa on Monday. 

Uhuru had also asked his deputy to stop taking credit for government projects he did not participate in implementing, saying governmen’st work was not done “from the rooftop of vehicles,” an apparent reference to Ruto’s numerous campaign rallies across the country. 

Yesterday, Ruto said while government policies were “discussed in boardrooms, they were implemented in the field, including on top of vehicles”.

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

The President faulted Ruto’s approach to politics, describing it as “full of empty words”. He laughed off his deputy’s tactics of “working from the top of a vehicle”, saying real service delivery was never accomplished through politicking but through hands-on leadership and action.

“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 hospitals and wards and to theatre,” he said.

Political conmanship

Ruto has been widely captured addressing rallies from the roof-top of his car during which he has accused Uhuru and Raila of “political conmanship” and staked credit to Jubilee government programmes in the energy, transport and health sectors.

Uhuru said Ruto had failed to heed his call to shelve early campaigns at the start of the Jubilee administration’s second term and asked him to brace for a real political battle as the campaign period gathers momentum.

“I told them to stop early campaigns but they told me I have no authority to advise them on politics. I tell them if they see that is right they should go on. But they should know there is time for work and time for politics…” he said, adding: “This is a marathon, I have no project for anyone. Yes, my vote is only one, but I can influence many more others to follow the direction I feel is okay for this country.”

Yesterday, a defiant Ruto used a series of Kenya Kwanza Alliance campaign rallies in Kakamega county to respond to his boss, saying he will continue with his campaigns. He also reiterated that he was part and parcel of the Jubilee administration and would continue taking credit for its successes.

He was accompanied by ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula of Ford-Kenya, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malalah and his predecessor Boni Khalwale.

Mudavadi said he had no regrets about his association with Ruto.

“Those saying I should have joined them should know that we are a strong team and we will get into State House,” he said.

He and Wetang’ula reiterated that they would ensure they deliver the Western region votes to Kenya Kwanza.

“We know what we are doing and where we are headed. We shall surprise our opponents,” said Wetangula.

Malalah and Khalwale promised to work as a team to make sure they delivered the Kakamega votes to their alliance. Barasa said the unity of Mudavadi and Wetang’ula was a major boost to deliver the Luhya vote to their alliance, especially in Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has once again warned Kenyans to shun reckless leaders keen to hoodwink them using empty rhetoric.

 Speaking during the launch of an ultra-modern cancer centre at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in Mombasa, he told the public not to gamble with the country’s future.

“As Kenyans, you have to ask yourselves what is good for you.  Do you want unity and development like these that will ultimately propel us to overcome poverty and build a healthy nation that has a good infrastructure network or do you want continuous empty talk that will not end poverty…?” he posed.

During his day-two visit to the port City on Tuesday, the President seemed determined to continue with his hard-hitting political punches on his Deputy William Ruto from where he had left on Monday.

“Empty talk does not treat cancer; empty talk does not build roads. It’s upon you to choose. Everyone has their right to choose whatever they want but it is important to ask yourselves which way has better prospects between empty talk and unity that comes with development,” he said.

In yet another clear sign that he will endorse ODM leader Raila Odinga to succeed him, the president said he is only interested in working with “people who are interested in continuity of development programmes.”

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