Ruto Admits He Almost Slapped President Uhuru at State House in 2017

Deputy President William Ruto has admitted that he sharply differed with President Kenyatta following the annulment of the 2017 presidential election by the Supreme Court.

Ruto confirmed reports that he almost slapped President Kenyatta at State House after he said he was ready to let go of the presidency after the apex court nullified his victory, citing irregularities and illegalities.

Speaking during a campaign rally in Meru County on Monday, Ruto said he had to force Kenyatta to stay put and defend their hard-won victory, adding that he could not allow him to surrender the presidency to ODM leader Raila Odinga, who successfully challenged Uhuru’s victory.

“Ata kama nyinyi mungekua mimi mungekubali ati Uhuru Kenyatta atuache kwa mataa na ati vile tulikuwa tumemskuma mpaka amepata kiti. Ati tuachie mzee wa Kitendawili?Kwani sisi ni wajinga?” Ruto posed.

The deputy president slammed the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition for trying to drive a wedge between him and President Kenyatta, insisting that he was the man behind Jubilee’s victory in 2017.

“Na niambie hao watu wa kuzimia (Azimio) kwanza mimi nilifanya campaign kubwa nlikuwa naamka mapema nafanya kampeni tatu kabla Rais hajafika na kwa sababu ni rafiki yangu nlimsaidia na hakuna vile ningeacha mtu wa kitendawili amnyaganye hio kiti.Hata kama nikuskuma yeye lazima ningeskuma yeye,” he said.

“You people have never voted for Uhuru and you don’t know what we did to propel him to the presidency. Right now you are here saying what I have done or not done? You have no business giving us lectures on our relationship with President Kenyatta. Stop the hypocrisy.”

On Sunday, Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition party secretary-general Junet Mohammed leaked an audio clip in which Ruto confessed how he almost slapped Kenyatta after he suggested he would quit the race in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling.

 “So, ndiyo huyo… Oh, sasa, hii maneno, sijui nini, mimi sitaki, mimi nataki kuenda Ichaweri, sasa mimi sitaki, wacha tuachane na hii kitu,” Ruto said in the leaked audio taken during a meeting with elders from Kikuyu community at his residence in Karen.

“Mimi nikamwangalia (Uhuru), nikamwambia ‘wewe’! Ni vile tu nilikua na heshima, ningemchapa kofi. Ati sisi tuache?”