Ruto to President Uhuru: Please Don’t Help Raila to Defeat Me

Deputy President William Ruto has pleaded with President Kenyatta to stop campaigning for ODM leader Raila Odinga and let the two square off for the presidency.

Ruto, who spoke on Friday during a tour of Kenyatta’s Gatundu South home turf, urged the president to stand aside and allow him to deal with Odinga, who is giving his fifth stab at the presidency under the Azimio La Umoja movement.

While reminding Uhuru that he campaigned for him and helped him to ascend to power, Ruto appealed to the president not to use his influence to frustrate his State House bid and allow them to compete fairly.

“Hata kama amemua kwenda kusaidia mtu ya kitendawili, namuomba kwa unyenyekevu asitumie ile kisu nilisaidia yeye kupata kunikata miguu. Mwambie huyu Ruto unampangia ni yule muliombewa na yeye hapa Gatundu na hata hiyo maombi Mama Ngina alituombea,” Ruto told a rally at Mutomo area.

Ruto, who is running for the presidency on a UDA party ticket, vowed to mount a formidable campaign and win the upcoming presidential contest.

He also accused President Kenyatta of using and dumping for Odinga, whom he run against in the 2013 and 2017 presidential elections.

“Mwambie vile vile ni yule Ruto ambaye wakati hakuna mtu alikua ako tayari kumsaidia, ni huyo Ruto alisimama na yeye. Umuambie nimemuuliza, hata kama hataki kunisaidia aniwachie hii mzee ya kitendawili, mimi niko tayari kupambana na yeye,” Ruto added.

Uhuru endorsed Odinga, 77, as his preferred successor during the Azimio La Umoja convention at KICC in Nairobi last weekend.

“The next president of Kenya will be Raila Amollo Odinga. He has the ability and the willingness and God will enable him to see Kenya move forward while united, to fight corruption and to continue being a respected country across the world. I'm sure that once he takes over, he will not leave his brothers and sisters behind," said Uhuru.