In a fiery attack, Ruto asked his
rivals to start marketing their vision,
plans and agenda for the country instead of invoking his name in their
meetings.
Speaking in Taita Taveta on Friday,
the President warned they will suffer
defeat in 2027 if they perpetuate the
politics of name-calling and tribalism.
“Some people came together claiming to be forming a party yet they
spent four hours talking about William Ruto. Four hours?” Ruto posed.
“Did they form a party called William Ruto or does the party belong
to William Ruto? Your policies, Ruto.
Your plans, Ruto. Your vision, Ruto.”
“I want to tell them, they should
create a party and give it its own name,
not William Ruto. They should come
up with policies, otherwise they will
fail,” he said.
Ruto spoke a day after opposition
politicians, in a display of unity, fired
attacks at him during the relaunch of
People’s Liberation Party, formerly
Narc Kenya.
Former Deputy President Rigathi
Gachagua, Wiper boss Kalonzo
Musyoka, People’s Liberation Party
leader Martha Karua and DAP-Kenya boss Eugene Wamalwa attended the
event.
Others were Jimi Wanjigi (Safina)
and a youth representative.
They leveraged the attacks to criticise the President and declared a political tsunami in 2027 akin to the
Narc wave of 2002 that vanquished
Kanu out of power.
Kalonzo promised a big political
wave bringing all the opposition team
in the next election.
“We are going to
unite under an idea and agenda. It
cannot just be unity to remove an individual. It is not going to be business
as usual today. We are going to do
important things from today,” he said.
“It is going to be bigger than 2002,
we are going to be an action-oriented
unity movement.”
According to the
plan, like-minded parties will first
strengthen their individual parties then subject themselves to an agreed
selection process that would produce
one candidate.
“Let us continue strengthening our
parties, mobilising our support and at
the right time, we will sit down and
craft a formula that will liberate this
country. All of us should be selfless
and do whatever it takes and sacrifice
for this country,” Gachagua said.
But Ruto said the leaders have reduced their agenda to name-calling
and tribal politics, things he said have
lost favour in the country.
“These people who were talking
about William Ruto, I have not sent
them. That party they are talking
about does not belong to William
Ruto. These are conmen,” he said.
The President said he is focusing
on delivering his administration’s
programmes including affordable
housing programme, Universal
Health Coverage and jobs.
He challenged his competitors to
advance alternative plans.
Ruto said the leaders are coalescing around tribal blocs “that will
collapse”.
“Let them look for policies, plans
and vision otherwise they will burn.
It is up to them. Tell us your alternative plans. For us, we have affordable
housing, UHC and roads. What is
your plan?” he posed.
“Let us unite. The county wants
transformation. I’m focused on
transforming the country. I’m focused
on making sure there is equity and
equality in all parts of Kenya,” he said.