President William Ruto has said he is ready to be challenged at the forthcoming party elections for the leadership of the ruling United Democratic Alliance party.
Speaking on Friday during the governing council meeting at the Bomas of Kenya, Ruto told party delegates that there is no one in the party who will get any position through the back door, but by being elected by the 'owners of the party.'
"Heri sahii kama kinaumana kiumane tujue vile tunajipanga. Wacha wenye chama waseme na kila mtu hapa ajipange. Hakuna mtu atapatiwa kiti kwa sahani, kila mtu atajipanga. Na usiseme Ruto ni rafiki yangu ama Riggy G ni rafiki yangu. Tafuta urafiki na wanachama uko nyumbani hata mimi nitawafuata uko," he added.
This loosely translates to, "It's better now so that in case things don't go as planned we'll know how to plan ourselves. Let the owners of the party decide. No one will be handed a position because he or she is my friend or because Riggy G (Gachagua) is my friend. Be friends with party members. I will also look for them in the grassroots."
The President said that as much as he is recognised as a party leader, nobody elected him, and neither was his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua.
"I am looking forward to growth within the party. So that we build a solid foundation," the President added saying he wants a party that fosters national unity and one that is transparent.
The UDA party is set to hold its national elections on December 9, 2023.
Ruto noted that the party had really not planned on its leadership as the elections were approaching, and should with immediate effect plan and agree on a way of moving forward together.
"Nataka tubadilishe mawazo yetu kutoka wakati ambao watu walikuwa wanatuambia chama ni matatu ya kutoa mtu hapa, kuenda pale. Nataka tuwe chama ambayo mtu anaweza kuchaguliwa kwa sababu ya sera, bali sio mambo mengine," he said.
(I want us to change our mindset from years back that a party was like a matatu to take people from one place to another and that's it. I want us to have a party where an individual can be elected due to their manifesto and not because of their tribe, gender and ethnicity.)
Ruto said for a party to prosper, it should be built on a foundation of structures and meetings.
"All of us must contribute to the party. I am number one in party contribution. You can't say you are a member of a party and avoid your duties of paying your dues," he said.
The President urged the UDA party members to also be updated with what the government is doing so that they don't just be people who ask questions all the time.
"You are the ones who should be answering the public about what is happening in government. You are part of this administration," he said.
The ruling party held its first NGC at the Bomas of Kenya since they got elected into office in August last year.
