WHY UHURU URGENTLY PHONE CALLED RUTO

Kiharu Member of Parliament (MP) Ndindi Nyoro has publicly urged retired President Uhuru Kenyatta to immediately call and congratulate his successor, President William Ruto, on his victory in the August 2022 Presidential election.

Nyoro made his plea to the former President on Sunday in Isiolo, further advising him to abstain from active politics. He also advised Uhuru to resign from active politics as one way of preserving his respect among Kenyans.

“Respect the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, and lead by example. I am not qualified to give you advice, but please call your successor President Ruto and congratulate him. Uhuru Kenyatta, please call President Ruto and congratulate him, Also, resign from political parties,” Nyoro requested.

Nyoro emphasized that former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s support for President William Ruto would be in line with the traditions set by previous leaders.

“The honorable course of action would be to reach out to the President, extend your congratulations, and lend him your support during his presidency. This has been the precedent – Moi did the same for Kibaki, who in turn did it for you (Uhuru). Now, it’s your turn to do the same for Ruto,” Nyoro added.

Additionally, Nyoro didn’t shy away from reminding Kenyatta, his erstwhile party leader, of his alleged violation of the law. He pointed out that Kenyatta’s continuous engagement in active politics is, in fact, contradictory to legal stipulations.

His comments come in the wake of Kenyatta, still the Jubilee Party leader, announcing a change in venue for the party’s upcoming National Delegates Conference (NDC). Amid party infighting, Kenyatta disclosed that the delegates would now gather at the Ngong Race Course, a shift from the previously announced Bomas of Kenya location.

Currently, the Jubilee Party is experiencing a divide, with one faction expressing support for President Ruto and the other aligning with the retired President Kenyatta.

In August 2022, Kenyatta had declared that he would peacefully hand over power to Ruto. However, he noted that he would only recognize Raila Odinga, another key political figure, as his leader. “I will hand over power smiling because it is constitutional. Aluta continua but I will leave knowing Raila is my leader,” Kenyatta stated last year.

Despite Kenyatta’s clear preference for Odinga to take the reins after him, Ruto emerged victorious in the presidential election. Addressing this outcome, Kenyatta remarked, “Don’t think that you have denied Raila, You have denied yourself the opportunity of bringing the country together.”

The present political climate raises significant questions about party unity and future political maneuvers in the Kenyan political landscape. As these events unfold, it remains to be seen how the retired President Kenyatta responds to MP Ndindi Nyoro’s request and how this might influence the dynamics within the Jubilee Party.