Deputy President William Ruto appeared to change his tactics in Mt Kenya on Tuesday, toning down attacks against his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He said he and his team respect the President but cannot agree with his decision to back former opposition leader Raila Odinga as his successor.
While lobbying for support in Nyeri, Ruto told the residents he has never disrespected the President, contrary to what Kenyans have been made to believe.
He said unlike their opponents in the Azimio la Umoja camp who until lately have been throwing insults at him, they are only irked by his support of Raila.
“Mimi nataka nimwambie rafiki yangu rais, sisi ni watu yako, hauna wengine, na hakuna mtu kati yetu amekutukana, wenye walikutukana ni akina Joho, Babu Owino na Junet Mohamed…wao sasa ndiyo wanajifanya ni marafiki zako,” Ruto said.
This loosely translates as, “I want to tell my friend the President, we are your people and nobody within us has abused you. Those who abused you are the likes of Joho, Babu Owino and Junet Mohamed… They are the ones now pretending to be your friends”.
President Kenyatta has frequently taken on the Ruto team, accusing them of publicly insulting him at their rallies.
Addressing a crowd at Naromoru, Nyeri town and Karatina, Ruto reminded the President that most of the Kenya Kwanza leaders are the ones that stood by him in 2013 and 2017, while Raila and his team opposed him.
“Lakini Uhuru na yeye saa zingine ako na mchezo, honestly, yaani kati ya watu millioni kumi tulisimama naye 2013 na 2017 hakuna mtu wa kutuongoza mpaka anakodesha mtu ya kitendawili? hiyo tumekataa,” he said.
This loosely translates as, “sometimes he pulls jokes, honestly, out of the 10 million people who stood with him in 2013 and 2017, there is no single person who was to lead us for him to go and rent Raila? That one we have rejected”.
Ruto said it was regrettable that the President has been “corrupted” to believe that he and the Kenya Kwanza brigade are evil yet they have always been supporting him.
The DP also welcomed the President’s change of stance by saying he would hand over power to the person whom Kenyans will elect next Tuesday.
His running mate Rigathi Gachagua told national administrators not to be misled by the senior state officers to advance the interests of particular political camps. They must remain neutral and serve all Kenyans, he said.
“Kibicho and Matiang’i are not going to take you anywhere. Those are people who are going home in six days alongside President Kenyatta. Stick to your Constitutional mandates,” he said.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro who accompanied the team said the real opinion poll was set for August 9. He urged Kenyans not to be swayed by polls released by firms he described as sponsored by interested parties.
Nyoro also took on Agriculture Cabinet secretary Peter Munya, accusing him of lying to Kenyans that the prices of maize flour had been subsidised.
He alleged the money that had been paid to the millers was being returned through the backdoor to campaign for Raila.
Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah reminded President Kenyatta that he is responsible for ensuring there is peace before, during and after the election.
“Today you are the commander in chief until you hand over to the incoming president. If you allow any incident of violence now or on the day of polling to happen, you will be held accountable,” he said.
He added, “You told the ICC that the buck stopped at the then-sitting head of state Mwai Kibaki (deceased) concerning the the2007-08 post-election violence and equally it will stop at you now.”
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and Laikipia Woman Representative Cate Waruguru, among others, accompanied the team.
Waruguru said the President was embarrassing himself by engaging in partisan politics instead of allowing Kenyans to freely make their own decisions.
“Mr President, you came here and told us you have seen the light and that Ruto will get his two terms after fully supporting you. Why are you now telling us Raila is the right man?” she asked.
Earlier on, Ruto made a passionate appeal to religious leaders to pray for the country as it heads to the polls while calling on Kenyans and leaders from diverse political divides to preach peace.
Ruto was hosting an interdenominational prayer service at his Karen residence. He said some individuals were keen on taking advantage of the current political situation to disturb the tranquillity.
“Because of how things are now, there are people who would want to disrupt the peace of the country but we would want to urge you to pray for peace and prosperity,” he told the clergy.
The Deputy President added, “We have many challenges but we have God on our side, Kenyans should cast their votes in peace, and the will of God will prevail.”
While speaking in Kakamega on Sunday, Ruto alleged there is a plot to use chiefs and their assistants on the voting day in a clear scheme to manipulate votes.
The administrators, he said, were holding night conventions in the guise of security meetings which were actually aimed at strategising for recruitment of people to sabotage the election.
Ruto said that as leaders from the Kenya Kwanza camp, they had overcome many challenges in their journey.
“Along our way we have come to the realisation,” he said, “that man can let you down but God cannot.” BY THE STAR