Evans Nyakundi and Baraka Karama

President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday appeared to hit out at his deputy William Ruto, telling him to stop poisoning the country by preaching tribal and divisive politics.

Addressing wananchi at Ikonge Primary school in North Mugirango constituency in Nyamira County, Uhuru said it was wrong for some leaders who want to succeed him, to spend much of their time criss-crossing the country preaching hate, tribal and divisive politics.

Without naming him, Uhuru reminded Ruto that abusing other leaders would not win him votes from Kenyans.

“As your President, I only have one vote but the next President will be determined by you Kenyans,” he stated.

Dangerous

The President asked leaders to discard divisive politics which he said were dangerous, as they could tear the country apart and threaten the unity of Kenyans and the prevailing peace.

Uhuru also lashed out at Ruto and warned him against fighting the Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang’i.

He said that those fighting Matiang’i were indirectly fighting him because he was the one who appointed him to the position.

“Let me tell those who are abusing and fighting Matiang’i that I have a lot of confidence in him and they are wasting their time. He chairs some Cabinet committees very well and since I appointed him to the security docket, good reforms in the security sector have been realised “ he stated.

 “I want to tell all those who have any issues with Matiang’i to directly face me because I am the one who appointed him,” he told the cheering crowd.

He said that the same person was preaching falsehoods about the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report and asked Kenyans to ignore him and his followers.

He dismissed Ruto’s argument that the BBI report was about creating jobs for individuals saying it was about uniting Kenyans.

Meanwhile, Uhuru landed in Kisumu yesterday evening to inspect various development projects in the region.

The President was accompanied by ODM leader Raila Odinga, Cabinet Secretaries Amina Mohammed, Raphael Tuju, James Macharia, Matiang’i and a host of MPs from the region.

 According to Kisumu county commissioner Josephine Ouko, the President is expected to tour several development projects in the area, key among them being the Kisumu Inland Port that has been under refurbishment.

 His visit will re-ignite the dampened hopes of the residents who have waited for more than a year for the port’s official commissioning.

 The negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic witnessed in the country had  thwarted elaborate plans that had already been put in place for the official opening.

 Transport CS James Macharia had announced in January this year that the President was set to launch the port in February after confirming that it was 98 per cent complete.

 Yesterday, Ouko confirmed that the President will visit the port even though she did not divulge more details.

 She said;: “Yes, we are hosting the President who is expected to tour the region to inspect various government projects, but as soon as we get the whole programme, we will announce it to the public.”

 Apart from touring the port, the President is also expected to inspect the construction of Uhuru Business Park complex that is meant to accommodate over 5,000 traders, who were evicted to give room for the expansion of the port.

 He is later expected to tour Miwani area where a 10,000 acres of land was set aside for the construction of a special economic zone.

 All these projects are touted to be the major fruits of the Handshake between him and Raila.

 Leaders in the area led by Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o were upbeat of the President’s visit to the region.

Said Nyong’o: “We welcome the President in the area since his visit will make us reap from the national government and our people will benefit.”