Ruto hints truce with Raila was planned before 2022 elections
President William Ruto has insinuated that his truce with Azimio la Unoja-One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga could have been planned before the 2022 General Election.
Speaking in Homa Bay during the Homa Bay International Investment Conference, Ruto said
"There are things I told you and you thought it was a joke. It was not a joke. I told you we had arrangements and no one would be a loser in this thing (presidential election). We made arrangements so that everyone gets something as we move forward," Ruto said.
Ruto says the current truce is aimed at unifying the country for development
"We want to unify the country. We want to work together towards the unity of Kenya. That is important to all of us. There is space for all of us in Kenya. You do not win by making others lose. We want a win-win outcome for all of us. We all want to be winners because those in the opposition (and) those in government must mean well for Kenya," he added.
According to Ruto, there are no ordinary citizens who are in the opposition or government, hence they should not suffer for the choices of their leaders.
"There are no citizens who are in the opposition or Kenyans who are on the other side. It is only these leaders who have a job to do something in parliament. All Kenyans are on the same side. We belong to one nation and we have one goal; to make Kenya a great country that we can bequeath to our children," Ruto added.
This comes a day after Ruto publicly appeared with Raila, even as they gear up campaigns for the opposition chief to clinch the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship.
Raila and Ruto on Monday, February 26, 2024, flew to Uganda where they held deliberations with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who endorsed Raila's candidature.
Raila thanks Ruto
Raila expressed his gratitude to Ruto for backing his candidacy for the AUC chairperson role.
Talks about Raila's candidacy and Kenya's bilateral relations with the neighbouring country took center stage at the meeting
"Several days ago, I accepted an invitation from President Kaguta Museveni of Uganda for a joint meeting with President William Ruto today to discuss the deepening of regional integration within the East African Community.
"Crucially, at the urging of President Museveni, we also discussed my candidacy for Chairperson of the African Union Commission," Raila said in a statement on Monday night.
"I am very grateful to President Museveni for strongly endorsing my candidacy and to President Ruto for fully backing it," Raila added.
Raila announced his bid for the AUC chairmanship on February 15, 2024.
During his declaration, Raila said he was the right candidate for the AU Commission chairmanship.
“Today, I want to make it public that I am ready to go for the chairmanship of the Africa Union. I am ready and offer myself to be of service to this African content when called upon. I believe that Africa is playing in a league that it should not play in and that it deserves better,” Raila said on February 15, 2024.
Raila has received tremendous support from the ruling Kenya Kwanza regime, with several leaders declaring their support for his candidature.
A section of political pundits, however, sees Ruto's move to support the opposition chief as an attempt to keep him away from Kenya's political arena.
President Ruto is said to have personally approached Raila to offer himself for the AU role.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is said to have been eying the seat, is yet to speak.
