MBONA WANIFANYIA HIVYO? WILLIAM RUTO WEEPS

Deputy President William Ruto yesterday said he is the only true friend of President Uhuru Kenyatta and wondered why the head of state was backing ODM leader Raila Odinga’s bid.

Speaking in Murang’a town, the DP said he stood with the President in his hour of need, unlike the ODM boss who fought to deny him the presidency.

“That day Uhuru was looking for a friend to stand with him, when he had problems of Hague and when he was looking for presidency, did Raila stand with him?” he posed.

Raila was Uhuru’s main opponent in both the 2013 and 2017 general election.

“I want to remind the President, when you were in need, I stood with you,” Ruto told the the crowd in the heart of Murang’a town.

The UDA presidential flag bearer asked why his boss saw it fit to support Raila who fought him in the previous polls instead of picking one of the Jubilee members to succeed him.

“I am wondering. But it is okay,” the DP said.

The DP told the President not to scheme against him but instead, stay neutral and allow him battle with Raila in the State House race.

“Kwanini rais anipangie? (Why should the president scheme against me?), the DP posed as he implored the Jubilee boss to stay away from the battle field.

“Even if you don’t want to support me, please why don’t you just leave me with this Kitendawili man (Raila) I fight with him?” he said.

“I am pleading with him with a lot of respect, President, please just sit aside. Leave me alone with Raila. We will be done with him early in the morning,” he said.

Ruto took a swipe at Raila, accusing the ODM leader of rocking the government, destroying Jubilee party and crumpling the Big 4 agenda through the handshake.

Both the President and Raila have rubbished the DP’s claims that the handshake stopped government programmes.

The President has said his administration achieved massive development following the handshake.

The DP called for a six-piece suit voting in Murang’a as he marketed his bottom-up economic model that he promised will turnaround the country’s fortunes.

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, who accompanied the DP alongside several MPs, told the President to stop ‘lowering his status’ by campaigning for Raila.

“Kenyans elected you to be the President of Kenya not the campaign manager of Raila. You are lowering your status,” Mudavadi said.

Earlier, the DP attended a service at the ACK St James Cathedral in Murang’a town where he reiterated that he will continue supporting the church despite the many leaders attacking him over it.

Ruto said the church and other religious communities have been instrumental in the running of the government and that the country would not have come as far without their support.

“As the vice President, I can testify that all that the government has achieved led by the President would have been impossible were it not for God. We are the greatest beneficiaries of your prayers,” he said.

Ruto said he will not be dissuaded from supporting the church, assuring the faithful that the country will continue to be a God-fearing nation.

“Those others making noise at us are just politicians looking for votes and will not succeed in stopping us. We appreciate the partnership you give us,” he said.

The DP remarks were in apparent reference to his boss recently castigating the clergy for accepting donations that he said are raised through graft.

He said the country has to embrace the saving culture whose lack has plunged it into debts.

He cited China saves about 55 per cent of its GDP as compared to Kenyans who save only seven per cent of the GDP.

While addressing leaders from the Mt Kenya region at the Sagana State Lodge, Uhuru said some of the money donated in church was meant to fund dams that would have provided water to Kenyans.

Mudavadi urged the clergy to continue praying for the country to hold free and fair elections, adding that the votes must reflect the will of the people.

“But correct us when we go wrong. Reach out to us and counsel us so that what we do and say will be done righteously,” he said.

They were accompanied by MPs Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira) and Moses Kuria (Gatundu South).

Others were Alice Wahome (Kandara), Mary Waithera (Maragua) Murang’a senator Irungu Kang’ata and Kiambu governor aspirant William Kabogo.

Courtesy