Tuju Claims Ruto Demanded to be Paid to Support President Uhuru’s Presidential Bid

Former Jubilee Party secretary-general Raphael Tuju now claims that Deputy President William Ruto was paid to support President Kenyatta’s presidential bid in 2013.

Tuju, who is the Executive Director of the Azimio Presidential Secretariat, says Ruto made a raft of demands to be met before throwing his weight behind Kenyatta in 2013, among them monetary offers.

“Let the people of Mount Kenya not think that Ruto supported Uhuru willingly in the first place, this is a person of blackmail. He was paid. I can confirm before a court of law how it went,” Tuju said during an interview with Inooro FM on Wednesday.

He added: “He came with conditions that had to be met in order for him to back Uhuru. To him, politics is a business. That is why when he was making appointments in the cabinets and parastatals, he had to be given a 50% share which he then gave to his people and his friends.”

Tuju described Ruto, who is eyeing the presidency under the UDA party and Kenya Kwanza Alliance, as an unscrupulous leader who cannot be trusted with the country’s highest office, adding that the upcoming election is one where voters need to choose leaders based on character.

“Trying to blackmail Kikuyus that he supported them is false. He was paid and this is someone you cannot trust with the Treasury and the Central Bank. What’s important in this election is the issue of character, what kind of person is William Ruto and his running mate Gachagua? Or Raila Odinga and Martha Karua?” he posed.