Mudavadi: Why ANC wants to impeach DP Ruto
By Eric Wainaina and Hillary Mageka
Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi yesterday joined politicians calling for the impeachment of Deputy President William Ruto, accusing him of undermining President Uhuru Kenyatta and his government.
Mudavadi said it was hypocritical of Ruto to keep criticising a government he serves in and challenged the DP to resign.
The ANC leader said his party had resolved to table an impeachment motion against the DP, noting that it was “immoral and hypocritical” for Ruto to enjoy perks of the position he occupies and still continue criticising the President whom he deputises, accusing him of poor leadership.
Mudavadi, who spoke during an interview with Kameme FM, said that from Ruto’s talk, body language and the people he associates with, the DP had continued to paint a picture of a person who is unhappy with the Jubilee leadership, and therefore, the best thing for him to do is to resign.
The Deputy President has been critical of the Building Bridges Initiative spearheaded by the President and ODM chief Raila Odinga. Ruto has often made remarks that contradict the President’s position.
“The motion to impeach the DP is yet to get to the floor of the House. Members will decide if they are going to support it or not when it lands there,” said Mudavadi.
Coming barely a day after President Uhuru, speaking through Gikuyu radio stations, sought to quell a simmering rebellion in his Mt Kenya backyard and rally support for BBI, Mudavadi yesterday seemed to read from the same script, calling on the region to back the national cohesion project through BBI.
“It is unacceptable for the DP to sabotage the very government he is part by creating disaffection and inciting rebellion. That is why he should be impeached,” said Mudavadi.
The DP and his allies, who coalesce under the Tanga Tanga brigade, have been accusing the President of diverting from the original Jubilee agenda in favour of BBI.
Ruto’s decision to field candidates in the Matungu, Kabuchai and Machakos byelections has infuriated regional kingpins, including Musalia, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula who appear to have ganged up against the increasingly defiant DP.
Contacted, the Deputy Director of Communications in the DP’s office, Emmanuel Talam, dismissed Mudavadi’s calls for Ruto to resign as a waste of time.
“Who told Mudavadi that the DP is dissatisfied with the way the government is being run? William Ruto is very happy in government. It is Mudavadi who is uncomfortable with being in the opposition but does not know how to get into government. He should not purport to read Ruto’s mind,” he said.
Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri, an ally of the DP, said they were ready for an impeachment motion against Ruto, stating they would shoot the motion down on arrival.
“We would like to tell the ANC or any other party that we, the Ruto supporters, are ready for the purported motion against the DP. It is should not be delayed any longer,” the MP said.
On his part, Nominated MP David Sankok said Mudavadi’s party had no numbers in Parliament to effect the impeachment, noting that Ruto was elected on the same ticket as the President and cannot be expected to be a sycophant.
“Ruto is not a Vice-President to sing the President’s tune. He was not appointed but elected and he is free to express his opinions even if they differ from those of the President. Ruto has numbers in Parliament and they should not dare us,” Sankok said.
Yesterday, Mudavadi asked the DP to share the blame for the Jubilee government failures, which he has been pointing out.
