Ruto Assures Mt. Kenya: Worry not! Azimio Won’t Deceive Me
President William Ruto has reassured the people of Mt Kenya that they need not be concerned about any potential agreement or power-sharing arrangement between himself and Opposition leader Raila Odinga.
He mentioned that in his role as the President, the opposition wouldn’t be able to trick him into an agreement.
“I told you( Kenyans) that I can’t be cheated. Saa zingine mnakuanga na wasiwasi. Ati wale wanaweza kunichanganya. Mkinipima kweli, mimi ni mtu wa kuchanganuwa kweli?” Ruto posed.
The leader of the nation who visited Kirinyaga last Saturday proudly spoke about their victory over Azimio in the August 2022 elections, even though they were aligned with the ‘deep state’.
Ruto maintained that no matter the approach employed, the opposition wouldn’t be able to join his administration at this time.
“They did not manage us before, how will they do it then now? I told you there is no deep state that I don’t know. I told you they could not steal my votes. Now you think they can confuse us so that they get into government? Whose government?” he posed.
Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta had been allies since their election in 2013. However, their relationship deteriorated in March 2018 following the handshake.
On August 15, 2022, Wafula Chebukati, the former chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), announced that William Ruto emerged victorious in the presidential competition. This declaration came following Ruto’s victory over Raila Odinga and two other contenders in the elections held on August 9.
Ruto secured 7.1 million ballots compared to Raila’s 6.9 million. By emerging victorious in the presidential polls, Ruto had strategically outwitted both his previous mentors and partners: the consistent contender Raila, and his associate through the political agreement, Uhuru, in the competition to attain the position of the nation’s fifth president.
ALSO READ: Raila: If Talks Fail, Anti-Gov’t Protests Set for September
Furthermore, the leader of the country pledged that he would not be deceived into making a deal with the opposition, as his predecessors had been.
“They confused my predecessors but hii serikali ya handshake hawatapata. Haiwezekani. Ati watapata nusu mkate, never. Tumekataaa mambo ya handshake na nusu mkate,” Ruto added.
‘Nusu Mkate’ was a phrase coined to denote a national unity government, much like the one formulated in 2007 after the political deadlock that occurred following the contested presidential elections.
Between 2008 and 2012, Raila Odinga held the position of Prime Minister in the government led by President Mwai Kibaki. This arrangement came about after both parties reached an agreement to share power, facilitated by former UN leader Kofi Annan.
The phrase “handshake” alludes to a political collaboration similar to the agreement between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila in 2018, which occurred after the controversial 2017 presidential elections.
Supporters of President Ruto’s associates have alleged that the Opposition’s sole intention is to collaborate in power-sharing with the Kenya Kwanza government.
On the other hand, the opposing side contradicts this viewpoint, asserting that their sole concerns revolve around implementing changes to the electoral system and addressing the issue of the exorbitant cost of living.
Ruto Assures Mt. Kenya: Worry not! Azimio Won’t Deceive Me
