Ruto slams Uhuru as 7 parties back his State House bid

Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday tore into President Uhuru Kenyatta’s second term, accusing his boss of ruining the economy and presiding over state capture. 

In an all-out attack on Uhuru, Ruto claimed the President has run down the economy, with a few monopolies controlling it at the expense of millions Kenyans wallowing in poverty.

“Our competitors are the agents of monopolies. They are the masters of conflict of interest. They are the agents of state capture and we must free this country,” the DP said.

“They believe that this nation should be about a few people who wield the levers of state power. This country is not just about leaders. This country is about 50 million Kenyans."

In an emotional speech punctuated by hard-hitting tirades at Uhuru, Ruto said he will ensure that the country's massive public debt is investigated.

"Our competitors are telling us it is okay to have debt. But we must not be slaves of debt. Debt must be the last resort," the DP said. 

"We must grow our agriculture, grow tax revenues. Our tax revenues have stagnated because of conflict of interest.

"It is tragic that the only thing the handshake has done is to borrow Sh7 trillion in four years."

Ruto spoke at the Kasarani Gymnasium where he accepted the nomination by his United Democratic Alliance party as its presidential flag bearer in the August 9 general election.

The more than 5,000 delegates often broke into 'Yote yawezekana bila Uhuru' chants as they criticised the President.

Listing every promise, Ruto said he will introduce independence and integrity at the Kenya Revenue Authority, Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

"On out first day we will free the DCI, we will free the KRA from the state capture; they have weaponised DCI, KRA and the EACC to run political errands," Ruto said as his supporters cheered him on.

The UDA National Delegates Conference was attended by at least seven political party leaders among them Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Moses Wetang'ula (Ford Kenya), Mwangi Kiunjuri(TSP) and Moses Kuria (CCK).

Others were Jimi Wanjigi (Safina), Isaac Ruto of Chama Cha Mashinani and Tujibebe Wakenya leader William Kabogo.

The leaders endorsed Ruto as their presidential candidate.

With the endorsement, the DP is now set to face off with Azimio la Umoja candidate Raila Odinga in the State House battle that narrows to a two-man duel.

The ODM chief was installed as the Azimio joint presidential candidate in a mega political event presided over by the President last Saturday.

“We believe that we do not need to change the Constitution to create the opportunity and create jobs for millions of young people out of school,” Ruto said.

The DP said the country will witness massive changes from day one of his leadership, if he wins the presidency in the August 9 general election.

“We are telling them we will go to the polls to elect leadership that is going to create opportunities for empowerment, not sharing power."

He said that Uhuru and his 'handshake' partner Raila Odinga sabotaged the economy by crippling the Big Four Agenda meant to create jobs and opportunities for the youth.

The aim, he said, was to ensure they continue controlling the economy while the majority of the citizens suffer.

Occasionally, the delegates who included more than 80 MPs and senators, broke into dance and song as the DP delivered his speech.

Ruto said he will reform the agriculture sector, the backbone of the country’s economy, by dismantling cartels and brokers that he claimed have captured the sector.

The UDA boss said farmers are in pain due to skyrocketing farm inputs, lack of access to market for their produce and poor prices because of the monopoly.

"Agriculture will be on the ballot in this election. Our competitors are the masters of monopoly, agents of state capture and we must free this country and agriculture from the cartels and brokers," he said.

Ruto also said he "deal firmly with monopolies that have held agriculture hostage and we will make sure our farmers access fertiliser and have markets for their products."

The DP further said Uhuru is pursuing a political agenda against his friends who sacrificed for his election.

He said he will establish judiciary fund and appoint accounting officers for DCI and other agencies to help in fighting crime so that they do not take orders from the Executive.

“We will make the Judiciary truly independent so that they do not receive telephone calls from the Executive for them to write judgement."

He also said his administration will reform KRA by digitising its operation to ensure it nets the 60 per Value Added Tax that is currently not collected, to fund government projects and programmes.

(edited by Amol Awuor)