- Ruto said the Azimio La Umoja flagbearer has no agenda for Kenyans but for himself and a few people surrounding him.
- The DP blamed the handshake between Uhuru and Raila for the failures of the Jubilee administration.
Image: DPPS
Deputy President William Ruto has told President Uhuru Kenyatta to stop forcing Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga on Kenyans.
Speaking during a Kenya Kwanza rally in Kitui Town on Tuesday, the DP said Uhuru should let Kenyans pick the person they want.
“The people who are forcing Raila on Kenyans, are they backing a different person or the same man we have known over the years?” he said.
“Is he a tourist visiting the country? We have known him all along. It is the same person who has caused turmoil in Jubilee until the ruling administration lost direction.
"He is the same person who has always rejected the outcome of elections, the one who is known for violence.”
Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) sought an explanation from Uhuru over the current shortage of fuel in the country.
Mudavadi said the fuel used in Uganda passes through Kenya. It beats logic why Kenyans are suffering at the pump.
“We want an explanation from the President as to what is happening with the current fuel crisis. Is someone hoarding to create temporary shortage to hike the prices and get money for Azimio campaigns?" Mudavadi said.
He spoke in Bukalama, Nambale constituency of Busia county, during the Kenya Kwanza campaigns.
Mudavadi further questioned why the government is not using the Fuel Stabilisation Fund to lower the pump price.
Ruto said the Azimio flag bearer has no agenda for Kenyans but for himself and a few people surrounding him.
“When you look at him, is he in a position to take over the mantle? Let us put him on a wheelbarrow and take him to Bondo for his retirement,” he said.
He added that Raila has little to show for the period he served as the Prime Minister in the grand coalition government.
“The contest between Raila and me is not a pageant; it’s a contest over who is the best person to lead the country,” he said.
Ruto said the forthcoming polls will give Kenyans an opportunity to rid the country of political conmanship.
“He (Raila) lied to Wiper leader that he would support him in the next elections but he backtracked and now says he has one more bullet,”Ruto said.
Ruto blamed the handshake between Uhuru and Raila for the failures of the Jubilee administration.
“Because of the handshake, we forgot to transform agriculture, create jobs for the youths, and the universal healthcare. The handshake was all about changing the Constitution but thank God they never succeeded,” he said.
Ruto assured that his priority would not be to amend the Constitution but to boost agro-processing and value addition as a way of creating jobs.
“We will form a government that understands the language of the common person,” he said.
Machakos town MP Victor Munyaka accused Raila of lying in his election pledges.
“Raila has been saying that if elected, he will lower the price of basic commodities. He is in government through the handshake. If he is sincere, he should do it now and not later,” he said.
He asked residents of Kitui to join Kenya Kwanza saying even leaders from Uhuru’s backyard are fully behind Ruto.
UDA chairman Johnson Muthama asked locals to reject Raila saying the Azimio La Umoja leader does not have an agenda for the Kamba community.
“We know you very well no matter how much you may pretend to be different,” he stated.
Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki said Azimio top priority would be to create more positions in the Executive.
“We tried to speak to Kalonzo but we respect his decision. However, we want to tell you that Uhuru and Raila have no agenda for the Kamba people,” he said.