Azimio leader rally sets stage for face-off with Ruto, Rigathi

President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua yesterday took a strong stand against Azimio-One Kenya leader Raila Odinga, warning him against holding today’s planned rally at the Kamukunji Grounds in Nairobi.

Raila is expected to jet into the country today after a trip to South Africa and head directly to Kamukunji.

Speaking in Kirinyaga county yesterday, the President and his deputy warned that the country will no longer be held hostage by a few people chasing personal and selfish interests.

Ruto said his government will unite all Kenyans, irrespective of how they voted, and will put to shame those who use blackmail and threats to secure personal and family interests at the expense of millions of ordinary Kenyans.

In a veiled reference to the planned rally, which Raila has called in the wake of claims that the last presidential election was rigged, Ruto said he was alive to the fact that some people were not happy with the outcome of the elections and are now back to cause confusion in the country.

In a paid-up advertisement, a person claiming to be a staffer at the electoral commission claims that Raila garnered over eight million votes and should have been declared winner of the election. According to the advert, which also bears the Azimio logo, Ruto got less than six million votes.

Old conspiracies

The person who described himself as a whistle blower, claims electronic results were altered in a back room before being relayed to the national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya.

Responding to the claims, Ruto yesterday said: “They are back with their old conspiracies; they were planning to disrupt the elections and the Deep State narrative but it did not work.”

Ruto spoke during a thanksgiving ceremony hosted by Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru. He dared Raila and his allies to call for demonstrations as much as they want but Kenya would move forward.

“They got confused because they did not get a chance to cause chaos,” he said. “They thought ‘Deep State’ and ‘system’ would give them what they wanted. Now they are trying to plot other things”.

He promised Kenyans that the government would not allow the country to be held hostage by threats and blackmail.

“Msikuwe na wasiwasi kabisa. Hii Kenya tutaiunganisha iwe kitu kimoja. (Do not be anxious at all. We will unite the country). I will not allow a few people to threaten us with demonstrations, that we stop taking care of the needs of our people and focus on them. They are used to crying but we are telling them the end has come,” the President said.

Earlier, Gachagua had come out guns blazing, urging Ruto to continue doing his job as president and leave Raila to him for two weeks.

“We are asking you our President, on behalf of the people who assist you… leave this man to us, dawa ya huyu mtu ni mtoto wa Mau Mau (the son of Mau Mau is this man’s antidote),” Rigathi had told the prayer rally. “Please continue assisting us with our economy and other things like the Hustlers Fund, development and agriculture,” he said.

Gachagua also said the government knows who sent former Ndaragua MP Jeremiah Kioni to raise rigging claims last week and challenged the person who sent Kioni to speak out.

Rigging claims

“We will not leave him (Raila) alone, we know him very well and also know the person who has sent him and given money…And now you are sending former MP, why can’t you just speak for yourself, why send another person yet we know your language? Gachagua added.

Raila, is expected to arrive in the country from South Africa where he has been on official tour at 11 am and head straight to the Kamukunji grounds for the rally, whose agenda, includes addressing the new rigging claims.

 “Upon arrival, Raila will proceed to the Kamukunji grounds in Kamukunji constituency for a people’s baraza consultation with the public where they will discuss recent disclosures by a whistle blower on the conduct of 2022 General Election,” read a statement from Raila’s office.

“Raila appeals to Kenyans to show up in large numbers at the Kamukunji baraza in the interest of the country.

Raila has been out of the country for slightly over a week. He left the county on January 13 for South Africa,” the statement added.

Ruto was, however, categorical that his Government will do that which is possible and within its power to ensure it keeps its promise and not only transform the nation but also positively influence the life of each Kenyan.

He noted that the last election was critical because many people had other plans as threats but it was a peaceful exercise and Kenyans demonstrated they can remove the cancer of tribalism that has plagued the country for a long time.

“That is why we have reasons, we are here to thank God because despite all the plans and schemes, God not only gave us a peaceful election but we demonstrated as Kenyans that we can vote on issues not tribes, we can vote on an agenda not mere rhetoric,” he told the congregation.

Paying taxes

He said those in the opposition were rightfully there because the country’s democracy and Constitution provides for it.

On the economy, he said his administration would not lead the country into further debt and will ensure that the development plan is within the budget of tax collected.

He said the country had enough money to avoid the debt burden if all citizens responsibly paid their taxes.

“Kenya will no longer be an animal farm. Everyone must pay taxes. I will be number one in paying taxes, followed by Rigathi and others will follow,” he said. “It is not possible that Kenyans pay their taxes while the ‘bosses’ look for ways to evade taxation. This will no longer be allowed.”

He reiterated that the Kenya Kwanza’s government first assignment will be to consolidate the economy and make sure it is on sound footing while the second role will be to bring people together for peaceful co-existence.

“We will unite this country; we will consolidate our economy and every citizen is going to be treated equally irrespective of how they voted because they are tax payers. We have one country called Kenya and we are democratic,” the President said.

Ruto also warned cartels in the agriculture sector, saying they will not be allowed to misuse farmers.

“Our farmers can no longer be slaves of brokers and cartels who have taken our markets hostage and Mr Deputy President, you have my very clear instructions on what you need to do,” he said.

 “This job could have been done by ministers but the cartels are very arrogant and can take them round. Their day has come. They have to leave farmers alone.”