Prepare or Lose Again in 2022, Deputy President William Ruto Tells NASA

Deputy President William Ruto has told National Super Alliance (Nasa) leaders to stop lying to their supporters that there are chances of them forming a government before the 2022 elections.

Addressing mourners at the funeral of former vice president Kijana Wamalwa's widow Yvonne in Trans Nzoia on Saturday, Ruto told the opposition to accept that they lost last year's elections.

“We must follow the constitution. We are firmly anchored on the law and no is above the law irrespective of who we are, we must submit to the dictates of the constitution of Kenya,” the Deputy President asserted

“They [NASA leaders] should not be lying to their supporters. They lost in the election and the next contest is in 2022, let them prepare for elections,” he said.

The Deputy President further noted that the government was ready to engage Nasa in dialogue, but insisted talks must not be premised on 2017 elections.

“They have said that we must talk, we are ready. But ready to talk about how millions of youths will get a job, how every Kenyan will be covered by NHIF…that is the discussion we want to have.”

He said there would be no discussions such us who “is going to be President or the Deputy President.”

“We are not qualified. It is Kenyans who decides. Once they have decided, just like Chinua Achebe said, God’s case no appeal,” he said.

He poked holes on Nasa's preparations for last year's polls and cautioned them that they risk losing the 2022 one, if they don't change their tactics.

“I told these friends of mine, but they did not listen to me. I told them, you have taken so long to decide who is your leader until you got late. There is no way you would have competed with us, we were ready all along,” the DP said, in what tickled the mourners.

“We must speak the truth. The next election is in 2022…and if you continue like this, things will not be good for you even then,” he said.

Bungoma senator Moses Wetang'ula was the only Nasa principal who attended the burial ceremony.

Addressing Wetang'ula directly, Ruto said:"Wetangula is my friend and I warned them before the general election but he did not heed to my advice. Their brigade took a lot of time before deciding who their leader would be."

He continued: "Sasa mambo yamekwisha, mnataka kutuletea kisirani ... si tungoje 2022 (The elections season is over yet you want to cause problems. Why not wait for 2022)?"

"Mkikaakaa vile mnakaakaa, mambo yataharibika tena ... haya mambo mengine ya catwalk ni kelele tu (If you continue sitting around like you are doing, things will go wrong for you again ... all these other issues of catwalks only amount to noise)".