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Oliver Musembi and Wangari Njuguna

Deputy President William Ruto yesterday dismissed reports of plans to kick him, and other rebels, out of Jubilee Party as inconsequential.

Speaking during meetings in Gatanga, Murang’a county and Juja in Kiambu, Ruto said he was not bothered by reports that the party was planning to remove him and other party rebels from leadership positions during a planned delegates conference.

“These people are useless and hopeless. They should leave us alone because that party disintegrated the moment they brought in strangers in the name of a Handshake and we have since moved on,” said the DP.

Speaking at Matangi-ini during a homecoming and thanksgiving meeting of area MP George Koimburi, Ruto said they had gone ahead to found a new party, United Democratic Alliance (UDA). 

“Jubilee will go down in history as the only political party in the world that went from power to oblivion,” he said.

At the same time, the Ruto ruled out the possibility of forming a 2022 election alliance with ODM leader Raila Odinga.

No to Raila

He said those urging him to work with Raila were demeaning him and undermining his capacity to lead the country.

The DP said he was already enjoying massive support from Kenyans and other political leaders, which he said was enough to win the presidency in next year’s election.

“You mean out of eight million people who joined hands and supported us in forming the Jubilee government for two consecutive terms we cannot have one person we can pick to lead?” he posed and added: “We cannot follow Odinga because we have our own plan and vision for the country.”

He pledged to carry on with Jubilee’s development plan, including the Big Four agenda which, he claimed, was hijacked and stalled by “newcomers”.

“I have a clear and better plan to ensure the Big Four agenda is carried forward and it shall be incorporated in the bottom-up plan,” he said.

He accused Raila of disrupting Jubilee’s agenda.

“Everything was on course until we got some intruders in the government who derailed the implementation of the development plan. There is still room to do what has not been done and come next year, things will start rolling,” he said.

Ruto also accused his opponents seeking to create leadership positions through amendments to the Constitution.

“Their main agenda is to create more positions for the ruling class rather than improve the economy the way we are planning through our bottom-up approach,” he said.

Among leaders who accompanied Ruto were MPs Koimburi (Juja), Alice Wahome (Kandara), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Aisha Jumwa (Malindi) and Patrick Wainaina (Thika Town).

The leaders said Mt Kenya fully supported the DP and that Raila stood no chance in the region.

Koimburi said any leader from Central Kenya who wants to be in government should join the Hustler movement.

Jumwa told President Uhuru Kenyatta to allow Kenyans to decide who their next leader will be.

Ndindi and Kang’ata called for liquidation Jubilee party, saying it had lost relevance.

“We left the party a long time ago and I don’t think there is anybody there,” said Ndindi.