Ruto Taunts Uhuru Over His Role in Opposition Coalition

President William Ruto has poked fun at his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta's involvement with the opposition faction barely a year after his retirement. 

Speaking a the National Prayer Breakfast at Safari Park in Nairobi on Wednesday, June 7, the President noted the remarkable shift in politics that happened after the presidential election, where Uhuru backed Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga for the country's top office. Ruto recalled asking retired President Uhuru Kenyatta for forgiveness during last year's Prayer Breakfast ahead of the August 2022 election.

He laughed off how the ex-President's transformed into an enemy after the Kenya Kwanza Alliance won the Presidential race. Last month, Uhuru, the current Azimio chairperson, conveyed having resolved not to hang his political boots, attracting disapproval from Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza allies.

“It only happens in Kenya that in our last election, the opposition leader became the government candidate, and the sitting deputy president became the opposition, candidate,” President Ruto said.

At the Jubilee Party National Delegates Convention at the Ngong Racecourse on May 22, President Uhuru Kenyatta stated that he would remain the Jubilee leader until when the delegates will ask him to step aside. His statement was in response to the discord within the party, with a section associated with the former head of state accusing Deputy President Ruto of attempting to seize control of the outfit.

"I had thought that when I will summon the NDC I would come and tell you that I have achieved what I could and that it is time for you to pick other leaders. But others decided that it would be intimidation and force, today I tell them to get someone to intimidate and not Uhuru Kenyatta," Uhuru said.