Ruto vows to extend Uhuru legacy if he wins 2022 polls
Anthony Mwangi
Deputy President William Ruto appeared to move to mend fences with his boss President Uhuru Kenyatta’ yesterday by assuring him that he would safeguard his legacy if he succeeds him next year.
Addressing the gathering at Wang’uru stadium in Mwea during the Mashujaa Day celebrations, Ruto pledged to secure President Uhuru’s legacy after he leaves office next year.
“I will secure your legacy, Mr President with the bottom-up approach,” Ruto told the cheering crowd.
He went on to praise President Uhuru’s leadership stating thus; “On this day, we also celebrate you as our leader.”
The DP, who arrived at the stadium shortly after 11 am, amid cheers from the crowd and went straight to greet the dignitaries, among them Raila at the podium explained that the country has seen an unprecedented transformation in the last nine years under the leadership of President Uhuru.
“You have been a transformational leader in Kenya. You have set the standards for the leaders who will come after you,” Ruto stated.
He said that Kenyans honour President Uhuru’s commitment to development of the country which has seen many sectors transformed in the nine years he has been in office.
“We celebrate you (President Uhuru), your legacy as a transformational leader in Kenya will set the standard for leaders that will come after you. We will build on the legacy that you have set,” Ruto said.
He added that Kenyans will celebrate the many people who worked so hard and paid the huge price to be the nation we are today.
“Mr President, we celebrate you as our leader, your place in the history of Kenya is secure and prominent as a transformational leader,” he said.
Ruto has not seen eye to eye with Uhuru since Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1 in Raila’s Kisumu backyard.
In August during an interview, Uhuru openly asked his DP to quit the government, if he is dissatisfied with its performance instead of criticising it from within.
“You cannot criticise the same government that you serve, it’s a high time that you leave because you have demonstrated that you are not part of us,” Uhuru challenged his DP then.
However, Ruto remained defiant saying that he will stay put because his position is protected by the Constitution.
In terms of the development achievements made during the Uhuru presidency, Ruto singled out the Standard Gauge Railway, the construction of more than 11,000 kilometres of tarmac and the connection of eight million Kenyans to electricity.
Frosty relationship
He termed the projects as some of the milestones achieved by the Uhuru government and assured that the next administration will strive to move them forward.
“I want to assure you that together with my competitors that we will build on your legacy. We will not let any project remain incomplete,” he said adding: “As your deputy, I will build on your legacy and the Big Four Agenda and together with the Bottom-Up approach, the country will go to greater heights,” he stated.
Ruto further committed to ensure Kenyans remain peaceful and tolerant of each other.
Also present during the celebrations were C of Malawi who was accompanied by First Lady Monica Chakwera.
Chief Justice Martha Koome, Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi and Ken Lusaka (Senate) among other leaders.
