I Will Not Hand Over the Country to Thieves, President Uhuru Declares

President Kenyatta has stressed that he will go home once his second and final term expires in August next year.

Addressing a roadside rally in Nairobi on Wednesday, Uhuru said he is determined to leave the country in safe hands, adding that he will not hand over to “thieves.”

“I am focused on fulfilling my promises to Kenyans…some have suggested that I may cling on to power. I know I am going home next year. I do not have a problem with that,” he remarked.

He added: “My aim is to ensure that those who will assume office after me will not be thieves who will oppress Kenyans. I will only leave the office to someone Kenyans can trust and who will unite them.”

Kenyatta called on the people of Nairobi to rally behind the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), saying it is meant to benefit ordinary Kenyans.

"If we have a BBI that says the people of Nairobi will have more constituencies and if it's bursaries a child in Mathare who today receives Sh500, how will that child study up to university level," he posed.

"But there is another child who gets Sh100,000 in bursary per year is that right?... BBI is not for helping Raila or Uhuru it is for you," Uhuru continued.

Uhuru’s speech sparked mixed reactions among Kenyans on social media, with some stating that he has no power to decide who will succeed him.

Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika tweeted: “Unfortunately, for Uhuru and fortunately for Kenyans, he doesn’t get to decide who he hands over to. The people of Kenya decide based on their votes who it’s handed over to! He doesn’t get to decide for Kenyans perhaps the day this will sink in makasiriko itaisha.”

@ItsNyambane said: “President Uhuru Kenyatta says that he can't hand over power to a thief! He didn't mention a name but the usual suspects have started crying over the same.”