Stop Using State House to Sow Seeds of Discord, Ruto Tells Uhuru over Impeachment Claims

Deputy President William Ruto has told President Kenyatta to stop using State House to sow seeds of discord and division among Kenyans.

Ruto, who was reacting to Kenyatta’s claims that he tried to impeach him, said the president should act as a unifying factor instead of engaging in propaganda. 

Addressing a campaign rally in Msambweni, Kwale County on Monday, a seemingly enraged Ruto vehemently denied hatching an ouster plot against the president, terming the allegations as false and baseless.

“Please Mr. President, you are the leader of all Kenyans, don’t allow State House to be used as the theatre of planting seeds of division of Kenyans,” Ruto remarked.

“Mr. President you know it is not true it is false and I want to ask you out of humility to protect the office of the president.”

Ruto took the chance to remind Kenyatta that he stood by him when he needed a friend, adding that he respects the president’s decision to back his main competitor Raila Odinga.

"Even though you do not want to support me... it is fine. I supported you unconditionally. My friend Mr. President. please do not allow State House to be the arena where falsehoods, propaganda, and negative ethnicity are being propagated against me as your deputy. My friend I stood by you when no other person was ready to stand by you...," Ruto added.

During a meeting with a delegation of Kikuyu elders at State House on Saturday, Uhuru reportedly said that Ruto unsuccessfully engineered his ouster through impeachment and sabotage. Kenyatta explained to the elders that he had to reach out to ODM leader Raila Odinga to steady the government and ensure peace and stability.

Kenyatta pointed out that his handshake with Odinga deflated what he termed as Ruto's grand plan to sabotage his administration and ascend to power through the back door. He called upon the elders to mobilize support for Odinga, who is the Azimio La Umoja coalition’s flagbearer.