President Ruto Stresses Handshake Unnecessary for Progress
President William Ruto has reiterated that he will not permit any arrangement involving power sharing or the creation of government positions to serve the political interests of a small number of leaders.
In a thinly veiled attack on the opposition, President Ruto said on Tuesday that certain individuals are still negotiating for positions of power, despite the fact that the political season has passed.
“Kuna majamaa wanatuzungusha ati wanataka tuongee… ati ndio kazi ipatikane. Mnataka tuendelee na hii mambo ya nusu mkate? Hiyo watu nimewaambia wakwende kabisa. Kazi ya viongozi tulimaliza last year tarehe tisa mwezi wa nane,” said Ruto.
The President’s remarks appeared to reflect sentiments expressed earlier on Tuesday by his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.
Gachagua dismissed as a waste of time the ongoing bipartisan discussions between the Azimio and Kenya Kwanza coalitions and reported that Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio coalition, had a private meeting with President Ruto in which he personally requested a ceasefire with the government.
“Raila tayari alisema mambo yake. Alimalizia Mombasa. Hii ni mambo tu ya kuzungusha wakenya. There is nothing. Na ndio maana umeona sisi tumetuma Kimani Ichung’wa, Cheruiyot, Mbarire…. Mimi na Rais tuko kazini. Mazungumzo ikiendelea kesho tutakua Nakuru, kesho kutwa tutakua Baringo, siku ya Saturday tutakua Busia mambo ya maendeleo,” said the DP.
He added: “Sasa Kalonzo, kiongozi wa heshima, mtu amesoma, mtu wa sheria, amepewa agenda kwenda kuzungumza mambo ya kuzunguka round. Raila hakuna kitu anatafuta, alitaka tumpatie serikali nusu mkate tukasema hakuna. Alitaka ati handshake tukamwambia hakuna. Akasema ambassador tatu tukamwambia hakuna. Tukasema ukitaka pesa kidogo ya kukula we can discuss, ukienda nyumbani. Aende akiendanga.”
The DP stated that during the Mombasa meeting, Odinga issued engagement terms and demanded that his allies be appointed to prestigious government positions.
According to the vice president, Ruto refused to establish any government positions and instead offered a farewell package.
Gachagua spoke at the funeral of Anne Musau, the mother of Mwala Member of Parliament Vincent Musyoka (Kawaya), in Mwala, Machakos County.
As a result of the ongoing National Dialogue, the President and his deputy have made statements that could hinder efforts to end the impasse between the government and the opposition.
President Ruto Stresses Handshake Unnecessary for Progress
