Duale: Day Uhuru wanted me to part ways with Ruto
Garissa Town Member of Parliament (MP) Aden Duale on Tuesday recalled the day President Uhuru Kenyatta tried to prevail upon him to leave Deputy President William Ruto's camp.
Speaking at the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) National Delegates Congress (NDC), Duale said the President tried to sway him to his side so that he could survive the purge on Ruto allies in the National Assembly.
“One morning, in one of the rare parliamentary groups meeting, the President and I had 45-minute together. During the meeting, he told me that I was the best of the best, but I was friends with Ruto,” Duale recalled.
The MP said the President told him he had kicked out Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Kipchumba Murkomen (Elkeyo Marakwet), and Kimani Ichungwa (Kikuyu) from House leadership positions and he was next unless he changed his allegiance.
He said the President told him, "you are a good man but because you are the friend of Ruto, the head of the snake is still in parliament".
Duale said he refused to side with the President and even urged him to sort their problems with his deputy.
“I am a man of God. I have walked a long journey with Ruto. I am ready to take walk from the office than be part of your politics of deceit, betrayal and back-stabbing,” Duale said.
The Garissa Town MP was a power National Assembly Majority Leader from 2013 to June 2020 when he was unceremoniously removed by the President.
The removal of MPs allied to Ruto from parliamentary leadership positions became a torn in the flesh of the then deteriorating relationship between the President and his principal assistant.
Ruto has since been kicked out of Jubilee Party and he was unveiled on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 as the UDA flag bearer for the August 9 general election.
