Ruto goes hammer and tongs at his boss Uhuru
By Oliver Musembi and Mathew.Ndungu, March 14, 2022A fire-breathing Deputy President William Ruto yesterday took the 2022 succession battle to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s doorstep, accusing the latter of betrayal for supporting Azimio la Umoja flagbearer Raila Odinga.
Ruto who is seeking to succeed President Kenyatta took issue with the Head of State for allegedly choreographing a political scheme to reduce his chances of ascending to presidency.
In a bare-knuckled onslaught delivered at the President’s Kiambu home county when he addressed a rally at the Thika Stadium, Ruto accused Uhuru of going to bed with his hitherto political nemesis and abandoning those who stood with him at his hour of need.
“Mr President, the same people you are now calling thieves and other names are the ones who stood with you morally and through prayers when you were facing a very difficult time. We are the same people who campaigned for you in 2013 and 2017,” he said.
Ruto, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party leader and a principal in the Kenya Kwanza coalition claimed the President had been hoodwinked by Raila and fallen for politics of deceit and brinkmanship.
“When you were looking for somebody to walk with during the 2013 elections while going through tough times over the ICC case, I was there but for four-and-a-half years you have made us suffer. You called us names but we are the ones who were with you in prayer,” he said in reference to President Kenyatta.
He went on: “The same church leaders you are calling names prayed for you. The leaders you call thieves are the same who helped you to win two elections and instead you have decided to back Project Raila through the Azimio coalition.”
“When Uhuru was facing ICC charges it’s only I who stood with him, Raila was not there for him,” he said and took a swipe at the ODM leader accusing him of being selfish,
“The President decided to support Project Raila but this project will fail miserably since the old man has no plan for the people of Kenya,” he fumed.
During Saturday’s Azimio meeting in which Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka declared his support for Raila as the presidential candidate, President Kenyatta, without mentioning Ruto by name, said the DP had lied to Kenyans about what the government had done while dishing out proceeds of corruption.
Ruto claimed the Kenyatta administration has now weaponized the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to terrorize people who do not tow the President’s line and perceived political dissidents.
“Mr President, you have caused us untold suffering but we have forgiven you because we are people of faith. We do not believe in revenge for revenge belongs to God,” said Ruto who was accompanied by Kenya Kwanza co-principals and party leaders Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and Moses Wetang’ula (Ford-Kenya).
“You have humiliated us and harassed us for four-and-a-half years by ejecting us from parliamentary leadership. We walked with you in the entire country seeking to have you elected, including in Hague. Even the clergy who prayed for you, you now call them names, but we have forgiven you for all the persecutions but left you to God,’ said the DP.
He added; “While you concentrated on the Odinga project to protect the interests of a few, the prices of basic commodities went up, BBI collapsed, KRA and DCI were weaponised against hardworking Kenyans and leaders.” Mudavadi said Kenya needs a firm and decisive leader who would steer the country towards realization of its development goal and not a puppet leader.
He said: “It is now clear to all that Mr Odinga, Azimio La Umoja and its leader are projects.”
Wetang’ula appealed to President Kenyatta to emulate former President Mwai Kibaki who retired without interfering with his succession. The Bungoma Senator called on Kenyans to reject Odinga terming him a political project who has nothing to offer Kenyans. He said: “We urge Kenyans to reject Odinga who is a political project.”
Tharaka Nithi senator Kindiki Kithure and Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua said it was regrettable that President Kenyatta had opted to join the opposition saying the people of Mt Kenya will not follow him there.
“The President does not decide on our behalf, we will vote for Ruto. Kenya is a democracy,” said Kandara MP Alice Wahome. During the rally, former Kiambu Governor and Tujibebe Wakenya Party leader William Kabogo and Senator Kimani Wamatangi declared they would campaign for Ruto.