Uhuru’s First Advice to President Ruto

Former president Uhuru Kenyatta has advised his successor, William Ruto, to serve the country well because he will not be in the country’s top office forever amid the government clampdown on the former first family.

During a meeting with news editors on Monday, Kenyatta told Ruto that “power is temporary” and that he should serve the country with diligence during the time he has as president.

“My advice to Ruto is power is fleeting and temporary. Do the best for the country,” Mr Kenyatta said, adding that he did his best in the 10 years he was in office and handed over peacefully.

Kenyatta refused to support Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid and instead threw his weight behind Ruto’s competitor and former prime minister Raila Odinga.

“It is your work to run the country, not mine. Even if I did not support you. I did my best and I handed over when my term ended,” said the former president.

His sentiments came three days after police raided Kenyatta’s son Jomo’s house in Karen, Nairobi to conduct a search for firearms.

According to Kenyatta, Ruto has not reached out to him since taking over the State House saying he would be willing to engage him only if the President reaches out. He reminisced how he reached out to his predecessors, the late Mwai Kibaki and Daniel Moi when he was in power.

“I can’t invite myself to talk with him but if he reaches out to me; he is my president and I will go. I went to Moi and Kibaki regularly to seek advice,” Kenyatta told the senior editors.

Kenyatta has however distanced himself from claims he is funding the anti-government protests called by the opposition Azimio La Umoja coalition, saying, “I am puzzled by claims that I am funding Azimio protest, for what benefit?”

Ruto and leaders allied to his Kenya Kwanza coalition have repeatedly accused Kenyatta of sponsoring the Odinga-led demonstrations.

On Friday, Kenyatta showed up at his son’s home after the police left, where he revealed he is yet to hold any talks with Ruto since the opportunity has not been presented to him.

He stated that, despite the consistent public attacks “atop vehicles” at government functions, President Ruto has still not shown any sign that he wants to engage him in a direct private conversation.

“You have a tête-à-tête with somebody who wants to have a tête-à-tête with you. He has not shown any indication that he wants to talk to me. As a retired person, why should I look for somebody who doesn’t want to talk to me?” he posed.

The raid was among a string of recent events such as the withdrawal of government security attached to his mother Mama Ngina.

But the retired Head of State says his mother should be kept out of any political victimization, saying Monday that the benefits she enjoys are not because of being the former president’s mother but as former First Lady.

During Monday’s meeting, Kenyatta said he is not receiving all retirement benefits and that some of his staff do not have contracts.

“They don’t pay allowances to hire office, I fuel the cars,” the former president told media editors.