Ruto hits back at Uhuru over Raila’s 2022 victory claim

By  Winnie Atieno

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

• Mr Kenyatta made the remarks on September 22 during a Jubilee Party meeting in Nairobi.
• His renewed assertion is likely to keep the disputed contest of 2022 in the political debate.

President William Ruto on Sunday hit back at retired President Uhuru Kenyatta after the former Head of State said he still believes the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga won the 2022 presidential election.

Dr Ruto accused Mr Kenyatta of making divisive remarks and urged political leaders to set a good example for Kenyans.

Speaking at a Pentecostal church in Mwatate, Taita-Taveta County, Dr Ruto criticised leaders who address public gatherings to make what he described as ‘inflammatory remarks.’

President Ruto said political leaders should not use public platforms to reopen divisions or settle old political scores, urging them instead to focus on serving Kenyans.

“If you are a leader, you must set a good example. You cannot be a leader, then go to a public gathering while drunk and warn children against the vice or tell other leaders to stop drug abuse yet you are confused,” said President Ruto.

“Please, leaders, let us be responsible. Because you go to public places highly intoxicated and confused, then talk about inciteful things. The election was conducted four years ago but because you are confused, you start blabbering things that are not understandable. Let us be respectful. Let us help mentor other leaders by behaving responsibly,” he added.

Mr Kenyatta made the remarks on September 22 during a Jubilee Party meeting in Nairobi, where he said he and other leaders had done everything possible to support Mr Odinga’s presidential bid.

“We did everything to help Baba become the President of the Republic of Kenya. He got the votes, and to this day I know that he is the one who won those votes. We know how things happened, and we do not want it to happen that way again,” Mr Kenyatta said.

Dr Ruto, who was in the United States when Mr Kenyatta made the remarks, responded to the renewed debate during the second day of his tour of the Coast region.

The exchange has revived a political dispute over the 2022 election, four years after the Supreme Court upheld President Ruto’s victory.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared Dr Ruto the winner with 7,176,141 votes against Mr Odinga’s 6,942,930. The Supreme Court subsequently dismissed petitions challenging the result and upheld Dr Ruto’s election.

President Ruto also spoke about what he described as historical injustices that had contributed to discrimination against some regions and fuelled divisions, saying his administration is seeking to address those disparities by spreading development across the country.

The President urged leaders holding different political positions to stop blaming one another and instead provide solutions to challenges facing their communities.

Politics of division

“I am asking all politicians holding different positions to know that politics is not a matter of life and death. Ati kufa kupona, hapana, ni nafasi tuliyopatiwa na Mwenyezi Mungu kutumikia wale ambao walikupatia nafasi,” he said.

He said political positions should be viewed as opportunities to serve the people and that leaders would ultimately be judged by their record.

“We must all work hard. It is an opportunity given by God to serve the people,” he said.

Dr Ruto said Kenyans would assess leaders based on their actions as the 2027 General Election approaches.

The President called on leaders to work for the people and promote peace, citing Hebrews 13:1, which says: “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.”

Dr Ruto said the formation of the broad-based Government was part of efforts to bring together leaders from different political formations.

He said the arrangement brought together members of the opposition and the Kenya Kwanza administration, including leaders from ODM, with the stated aim of reducing political divisions.

“We said that we no longer want politics of division, hatred and ethnicity. We want to end discrimination and ensure equity in development across the country,” he said.

The President also said Taita-Taveta had not received as much development as other parts of the country and suggested that some local leaders had opposed government projects.

“Forgive them, this time round this county will not be left behind. Na bado, mambo bado. Start getting used to me visiting you often because this is also my county. I also have a home in Mata,” he said.

The remarks came as Dr Ruto continued his tour of the Coast, where he has highlighted government projects in infrastructure, housing, water and other sectors.

The renewed exchange between the two former political allies comes as political parties and leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Mr Kenyatta, who backed Mr Odinga in the 2022 election, has remained active in political discussions despite retiring from the presidency in 2022.

His renewed assertion that Mr Odinga won the election is likely to keep the disputed contest in the political debate as parties realign ahead of 2027.

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