• Uhuru on Saturday took a swipe at the Kenya Kwanza government saying leaders elected into office should focus ahead and stop looking at the past.
• On Monday, Gachagua fired back at the former President in a comical style and encouraged President Ruto to continue looking at the rear view mirror.
Image: MILLICENT OMANGA/X
Former nominated Senator Millicent Omanga has asked former President Uhuru Kenyatta to keep off the affairs of the Kenya Kwanza government.
Omanga, an ally of President William Ruto, said on Tuesday the former president should emulate his predecessors and quietly enjoy his retirement.
“Former President Uhuru Kenyatta would do himself a great favour by enjoying his retirement without appearing to be sabotaging the Kenya Kwanza administration. Let him emulate his predecessors,” she said in a statement on X.
Uhuru on Saturday took a swipe at the Kenya Kwanza government saying leaders elected into office should focus ahead and stop looking at the past.
He was speaking at the burial of former Cabinet Minister Amos Kimunya's wife, Lucy Wanjiru, at Foothills School, Kipipiri in Nyandarua County.
“Kama wewe ni kiongozi wa maana, kiongozi wa maana anashika steering wheel anaangalia mbele, sio kila saa kunagalia rear view ati ametoka wapi,” he said.
(If you are a quality leader, you handle the steering wheel and focus ahead, not checking the rearview mirror from where you are from)
“Ukiwa mtu wa kuendesha ukiangalia rear view mirror, wewe ni mtu wa kupeleka gari katika mtaro,” he added.
(If you are someone who checks the rearview mirror, you will lead the vehicle to a ditch)
Kenya Kwanza's top leadership responded in kind with Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua defending their leadership style.
The two have over time blamed the Jubilee administration for a myriad of ills including excessive borrowing and unnecessary subsidies which they say partly contributed to the current high cost of living.
“If you want to lead the country, look ahead. Don’t focus on needless talk and blame game,” Uhuru added in his native Kikuyu language.
“Hakuna pahali mnaenda, hakuna pahali mnapeleke nchi. Nchi inataka viongozi ambao wako na maono ya mbele kwa sababu hiyo ndiyo itakuwa ya manufaa, kutatua shida zile wakenya wako nazo,” he added.
(There’s nowhere you are going, there’s nowhere you are taking the country. A country wants visionary leaders because that is what’s important, solving problems facing Kenyans)
On Monday, Gachagua fired back at the former President in a comical style and encouraged President Ruto to continue looking at the rearview mirror.
“I heard somebody saying that you should not look at the rear mirror, I want to encourage you to continue looking at the rear mirror because the inventor of the motor vehicle was not mad by putting the rear mirror,” he said.
“In your leadership, your Excellency, you have made it very clear that no Kenyan should be left behind, so you must continuously continue looking at the rear mirror to ensure that all Kenyans are on board and are not left behind.”
The DP was speaking at the start of a Cabinet retreat with the Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary group in Naivasha.
He said it’s important for the President to keep his eyes on the rearview mirror as he steers the country ahead because there are those with ill intentions who would want to derail his agenda by removing tyres or stealing goods from his vehicle.
“And again your Excellency, your pace is too fast for those of us who help you; myself and these Cabinet secretaries. Sometimes you’re too fast you leave us behind, so continue looking, when you find your deputy is being left behind you urge him and the rest to catch up with you,” Gachagua said.
When he stood to speak, Ruto fired back at his predecessor saying he was lamenting about the Kenya Kwanza leadership because it is implementing projects like affordable housing which the previous regime was derailed from by the handshake.
“The other day I heard one of our friends (Uhuru) saying that when he sees things he feels like crying, it is true because they are now wondering that it is true that housing was possible, and you wasted time on reggae.”