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Deputy President William Ruto has asked his competitors in the race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of the August 2022 general elections to directly face him in their quest for the country’s top seat.

Speaking during a tour of Bungoma county on Thursday, November 4, Ruto challenged One Kenya Alliance (OKA) principals and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga to stop hiding behind Uhuru and directly face him.

“Si mnaona hawa wanaume vile wanapangana, wengine wanapangana corner Fulani, wengine corner fulani lakini hakuna mwenye ako tayari kuja kuface mimi. Hawa wote wameenda kujificha nyuma ya Uhuru Kenyatta. Kama ni wanaume si watoke nyuma ya Uhuru wakuje wapambane na mimi,” the DP said.

Ruto further defended his hustler movement narrative, accusing his competitors of equating the run for presidency to a beauty contest.

“Si mtu unampatia kazi yule ameonekana anajua kupanga kazi na kufanya kazi? Kwani utapigia mtu kwa sababu ako na sura mzuri? Hii hapana mashindano ya urembo, ni mashindano ya kazi,” Ruto said.

The DP further challenged his competitors, asking them to identify their main candidate in the 2022 polls instead of rebuking ‘the wheelbarrow’ which is his party’s emblem.

“Kwanza mutengeneze candidate yenyu, wacheni kuzubaa zubaa na kusema ni huyu ama hamjui ni huyu. Hii kuzubaa mtapoteza alafu museme imeibiwa. Munazunguka mankuja kuongea mambo ya wheelbarrow. Sasa wewe unasumbuka kwanini? Kwani kuna mtu amekuuliza mambo ya machungwa? Kuna mutu amekuuliza mambo ya simba? Kuna mtu amekuuliza mambo ya umbrealla?” the DP said.