Uganda has fastest COVID-19 rate in Africa

KAMPALA, Uganda

Uganda has reported the highest percentage increase in the new coronavirus disease (COVID 19) in Africa, according to the Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment report of the World Health Organisation (WHO) released on August 26.

It is the second time Uganda is featured among African countries with the highest percentage increase in new recorded COVID 19 cases in one week.

In the week ending Aug.19, Uganda reported the third highest increase behind Eritrea and Rwanda. But a week later the percentage increase in Uganda had overshot them.

In the latest WHO reporting period, the three countries that reported the highest percentage increase (above 100%) include Uganda (184%), Rwanda (137%), and Comoros (100%).

During the earlier reporting period, Uganda with 290 news cases versus 110 in previous week, was among countries that reported the highest percentage increase but behind Eritrea (533%), Rwanda (464%).

According to the new data, the latest Uganda figures also show a marked rise of COVID 19 deaths in the country. In the earlier WHO report of Aug. 19, Uganda had just 19 deaths with a low case fatality ratio (CFR) of 0.9%.  By Aug.25 Uganda had recorded 26 COVID 19 deaths with a CFR of 1.0%. The death had risen to 28 by Aug.29. The total number of deaths reported in Africa is 20,787 reported in 45 countries, giving an overall case fatality ratio (CFR) of 2.0%.

Uganda has also featured among countries recording new health worker infections. Uganda’s numbers are once again small at just seven new infections in one week to Aug.25 compared to the continental total of 214.

In the face of the growing numbers, President Yoweri Museveni on Aug.27 announced a day of national prayer and issued new orders for politicians from his ruling party, NRM, who have been hosting large gathering in their constituencies as part of campaigns for the 2021 elections. The President said he will now not accept the claims by politicians that the crowds gather against their will.

“The order now is: “Do not put yourself in a situation where people gather around you.    If you do, we shall arrest you,” the President said in a long twitter message.

The President said, on account of the stringent measures, the government took early, nobody died, for four and a half months, until July 21 when the first person from Namisindwa district in eastern Uganda, by the name of Eunice Chematara, died in Mbale, in a private clinic.  Since that time, a total of 28 persons have died.  20 of them are from Kampala. The president said the deaths in Kampala are a result of “mis-education” by politicians claiming that COVID does not kill but is being used by Museveni to gag opposition political activity.

The President also declared Saturday Aug.29 a day of national prayers “to seek divine intervention in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Museveni said a citizen who he did not name told him of a “vision” in which the President was to organise national prayers to help tackle the deadly virus.

“A certain Ugandan came to me and told me that God had told him in a vision that I should organise National Prayers, scientifically organised, for God to deliver us from COVID 19,” Museveni tweeted.

“Therefore, by the powers given to the President of Uganda by Section 2(2) of the Public Holidays Act, I declare the 29th of August 2020, a day of National Prayers and a Public Holiday. Stay in your houses or compounds and pray,” he wrote.

Museveni is following a long list of leaders who, when faced with the COVID-19 threat and seeing few ways out of the fast spreading pandemic, have resorted to national prayers.

On March 14, U.S. President Donald Trump proclaimed March 15 a national day of prayer for all Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic and for America’s national response efforts.

“In our times of greatest need, Americans have always turned to prayer to help guide us through trials and periods of uncertainty,” Trump said, “I urge Americans of all faiths and religious traditions and backgrounds to offer prayers for all those affected, including people who have suffered harm or lost loved ones.”

The African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the African Union’s Interfaith Dialogue Forum (IFDF) dedicated May 22 as a continental day of prayer against COVID-19.

“The Continental Prayer Day is aimed to rally African citizens, governments and non-state actors to intensify collaborative action towards curtailing the spread of COVID-19 and mitigating the socio-economic impacts of the disease, while strengthening the morals of the population to deal with the sanitary challenges and health haphazard caused by the COVID-19 pandemic since its outbreak early this year,” the AUC said.

On March 21, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta hosted an inter-religious service marking a national day of prayer a week after it reported its first coronavirus case.

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared June 15 as Presidential Day of Prayer and Fasting to seek divine intervention in tackling the coronavirus outbreak. He urged Zimbabweans to come together, pray, fast and continue to observe precautions necessary to prevent the virus spread.

Tanzania’s President John Magufuli declared a three-day national prayers period from April 17 to 19 to help combat the novel coronavirus as the reported cases in the country rose.

Tanzania has not imposed any restrictions on movement or closed its borders. It has banned social gatherings and shut education institutions but left places of worship open. In June, Magufuli declared the country free from COVID-19 thanks to prayers to God.

 

Rwanda arrests 'Genocide Hero', to be charged for terrorism

By Staff Correspondent, KIGALI Rwanda

The government of Rwanda has confirmed arrest of politician and leader of armed groups, Paul Rusesabagina, through international cooperation and deported to Rwanda where he is set to face charges.

Rusesabagina, who came to fame through the controversial movie ‘Hotel Rwanda’ was briefly presented to the media by Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) on Monday morning August 31.

“RIB informs the general public that, through international cooperation, Paul Rusesabagina was arrested and is in the custody of RIB,” the investigative body said in a short statement.

“Rusesabagina is suspected to be the founder, leader, sponsor and member of violent, armed, extremist terror outfits including MRCD and PDR-Ihumure, operating out of various places in the region and abroad.”

RIB said Rusesabagina has been subject of an International Arrest Warrant, wanted to answer charges of serious crime including terrorism, arson, kidnap and murder, perpetrated against unarmed, innocent Rwandan civilians on Rwandan territory, including in Nyabimata – Nyaruguru district in June 2018 and in Nyungwe – Nyamagabe district in December 2018.

Rusesabagina became known internationally in the 2004 film “Hotel Rwanda,” which depicted his heroism in saving the lives of 1,268 people in his hotel during the genocide mass slaughter in Rwanda in 1994.

American actor Don Cheadle portrayed Rusesabagina. In his book, 'An Ordinary Man' and in the film 'Hotel Rwanda' Rusesabagina is portrayed as the man instrumental in saving more than 1,200 lives during the 1994 genocide.

President Bush awards, Paul Rusesabagina, who sheltered people at a hotel he managed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005, in Washington. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award given.

The son of a Hutu man and a Tutsi woman, and the Manager of Kigali’s top hotel, Rusesabagina was in a unique position to help people who flocked to the hotel looking for refuge from the machetes.

However, he is being called an opportunist, a liar, an imposter, a revisionist, a negationist, a traitor, a defender of mass murderers, a man profiting from the blood of a million victims. He lived in self-imposed exile in Belgium.

He said earlier that he’s survived at least one assassination attempt and has vilified every time he stands up to make a public pronouncement on Rwandan affairs.

“He is currently detained at Remera Police Station while his case file is being processed in accordance with Rwandan criminal procedure.” The statement said.

Zanzibar opposition party to protect victory

By Our Correspondent, ZANZIBAR

The Alliance for Change and Transparency-Wazalendo flag bearer in the Zanzibar Presidential election, Seif Shariff Hamad yesterday picked up nomination forms from the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC), calling for a level playing field for all political parties.

The former Chief Minister and First Vice-President promised to set out his priorities for his election bid after being endorsed by the electoral body to contest for the top position in the state.

“This time around, we will protect our votes to ensure our victory is not stolen as it has been the case in previous general elections,” he said, addressing party followers at ACT - Wazalendo offices in Vuga, Unguja. 

Soon after being handed the presidential candidacy forms by ZEC Chairman Retired Chief Justice Hamid Mahmoud Hamid, Maalim Seif questioned the pre-poll voting schedule for October 27.

He was concerned that the pre-poll voting on October 27 was irrelevant since the people will again vote for the Zanzibar President, members of the House of Representatives and ward councillors the following day.

Responding, the ZEC chairman insisted that the pre-poll voting cannot be avoided since it is stated in the relevant legislation.

The ACT Wazalendo candidate called upon religious leaders to promote peace throughout the period of campaigns to facilitate a peaceful general election.

He expressed surprise that the National Electoral Commission (NEC) had announced some candidates from CCM as elected unopposed while there are other contestants from various political parties including ACT - Wazalendo who are vying for the same positions.

Following ‘mass disqualification’ of opposition parties’ candidates, Hamad said that their supporters cannot agree to sit back while their democratic rights are being taken away by force.

“Enough is enough, be prepared for mass action.” He said of party members being barred from the race adding that struggle needs perseverance; it needs commitment and determination.

So far 13 presidential aspirants have picked up forms from ZEC to collect guarantor signatures from various regions. 

Uganda introduces Shs 240,000 COVID-19 testing fee

KAMPALA, Uganda

Government of Uganda has introduced a Shs 240,500 ($65) 'cost recovery fee for coronavirus testing services.'

Ministry of Health says in a letter dated August 27, 2020, that owing to a spike in coronavirus cases and the many requests from organizations and companies seeking to have their staff tested, it has become difficult to sustain free testing due to the inadequate in-country stock of test kits and resource constraints.

”In view of the above fact therefore, the government has introduced a testing fee of US$65…or [Shs] 240,500…per test for certain categories of individuals and organizations. This is a cost recovery mechanism that will enable the ministry of Health to acquire more test kits for continued access to testing services in the country.”

Among the categories of people to charged for the coronavirus testing are truck drivers, individuals seeking to know their COVID-19 status, organizations (both government and private) who wish to test their staff, Ugandans returning from abroad and visitors arriving in the country.

The money is payable to Stanbic bank under account name; MOH COVID-19 TESTING FUNDS and account number 9030017657983. The ministry, however, notes that testing will continue to be free of charge for patients who present to health facilities with COVID-19 symptoms, contacts of people who tested positive for COVID-19, community surveys, front line health workers and surveillance samples.

The letter is signed by Geoffrey Sseremba on behalf of the permanent secretary Dr Diana Atwine. Uganda has registered yet another coronavirus death of a 65-year-old male and resident of Mbale district in eastern Uganda. Also, another 81 new cases have been confirmed from the 3,890 samples tested on Saturday.

The cumulative total cases have now risen to 2,928 with 1,288 recoveries. As of today August 30, at least 375,788 samples have been tested for coronavirus. 

Globally, 25,323,189 cases with 849,002 deaths have been confirmed. 17,640,135 people have recovered from the virus as of August 30. 

Sudan rebels agree to key peace deal

KHARTOUM, Sudan

Sudan’s main rebel alliance has agreed a peace deal with the government aimed at ending 17 years of conflict, official news agency SUNA said Sunday.

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok

The Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), an alliance of rebel groups from the western region of Darfur and the southern states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, inked a peace agreement with the government late on Saturday.

A formal signing ceremony is planned for Monday in Juba, the capital of neighbouring South Sudan, which has hosted and helped mediate the long-running talks since late 2019.

Senior government officials and rebel leaders “signed their initials on protocols on security arrangements” and other issues late Saturday, SUNA reported.

However, two key holdout rebel forces have refused to take part in the deal.

The final agreement covers key issues around security, land ownership, transitional justice, power sharing, and the return of people who fled their homes due to war.

It also provides for the dismantling of rebel forces and the integration of their fighters into the national army.

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and several ministers flew to Juba on Sunday, the news agency said, where he met with South Sudan President Salva Kiir.

Hamdok said that finding a deal had taken longer than first hoped after a initial agreement in September 2019.

“At the Juba declaration in September, everyone expected peace to be signed within two or three months, but …we realised that the questions were of one great complexity,” Hamdok said.

“However, we were able to accomplish this great work, and this is the start of peace-building.”

The rebel forces took up arms against what they said was the economic and political marginalisation by the government in Khartoum.

They are largely drawn from non-Arab minority groups that long railed against Arab domination of successive governments in Khartoum, including that of toppled autocrat Omar al-Bashir.

About 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur since rebels took up arms there in 2003, according to the United Nations.

Conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile erupted in 2011, following unresolved issues from bitter fighting there in Sudan’s 1983-2005 civil war.

Forging peace with rebels has been a cornerstone of Sudan’s transitional government, which came to power in the months after Bashir’s overthrow in April 2019 on the back of mass protests against his rule.

Two movements rejected part of the deal — a faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Abdelwahid Nour, and a wing of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), headed by Abdelaziz al-Hilu.

Previous peace accords in Sudan, including one signed in Nigeria in 2006 and another signed in Qatar in 2010, have fallen through over the years.

 

Egypt killed 77 militants in Sinai

CAIRO, Egypt

Egypt’s military has announced that operations in the country’s Sinai Peninsula resulted in the deaths of 77 militants in recent weeks.

The North African country’s armed forces say their efforts in the restive north-eastern region destroyed 317 shelters or weapons caches and 10 four-wheeled vehicles between July 22 and August 30.

Seven members of the security forces were killed in the same period, the Defence Ministry says.

Video released by the ministry shows aerial footage of remote strikes targeting alleged militant outposts and vehicles, alongside the corpses of alleged fighters gripping automatic rifles.

For years, North Sinai has been the site of bloody clashes between government forces and insurgents, some of which are affiliated with the Islamic State tendency.

Deadly attacks on civilians by Sinai militants have prompted vows of reprisal from Egypt’s government and have resulted in a major military focus on the area.

Burundian journalist Jean Bigirimana missing for 1,500 days

BUJUMBURA, Burundi

The last time Jean Bigirimana's family saw or heard from him was 1,500 days ago.

The Burundian reporter and father of two went missing on July 22, 2016, allegedly after being arrested by the country's National Security Service in Bugarama, some 45km (28 miles) from the capital, Bujumbura.

Unlike dozens of other Burundian journalists, Bigirimana had decided against fleeing the country in the aftermath of the widespread violence that erupted in 2015 following late President Pierre Nkurunziza's controversial decision to seek a third term in office.

Later that day, one of Bigirimana's colleagues at the independent Iwacu newspaper received an anonymous phone call alerting him them of the arrest.

Rights groups at the time had documented a series of kidnappings, arrests and killings of civil society activists, journalists and others by government forces, armed opposition groups and unidentified attackers.

More than four years sinceBigirimana's enforced disappearance, the agony of his family is "unimaginable", Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International's director for East and Southern Africa, said in a statement on Sunday marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. 

"The Burundian government's failure to account for him is an affront to the principles of truth, justice and accountability," Muchena added, urging the new goverment of President Evariste Ndayishimiye to "end the practice of enforced disappearances immediately" and prosecute perpetrators of such acts.

"Families have the right to know the truth about the fate of their loved ones." 

Amnesty also called on Burundi's government to ratify the 2006 International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. To date, 63 countries have done so.

In a report last year, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Burundi said security forces, police and the governing party's youth league had continued to commit serious human rights abuses.

Noting reports of "numerous disappearances", the UN investigators said they were "deeply concerned about the frequency of such disappearances" and called on the government to set up an independent body with a mandate to investigate cases of disappearance reported since April 2015, locate potential mass graves and exhume and identify the remains.

Every year on August 30, families, activists and humanitarian groups around the world mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances to draw attention to a practice that is frequently being used "as a strategy to spread terror within the society", according to the UN.

In 1980, the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances was established to assist relatives to determine the fate of their disappeared family members. To date, some 55,000 disappearances have been registered with the body.

But Bernard Duhaime, professor of law at the University of Quebec and member of the working group, said this figure was just "the tip of the iceberg".

He noted that it was almost impossible to assess the extent of disappearances worldwide due to their "clandestine nature". 

"It is an intentionally hidden crime by nature," said Duhaime.

The working group typically receives disappearance reports from family members or organisations around the world. It then transmits this information to the relevant governments requesting them to carry out investigations. 

Since the issuing of the Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 1992, the body has also has been mandated with monitoring the states' compliance with their obligations under the declaration.

But Rachel Nicholson, Amnesty's Burundi researcher, said reporting disappearances to international bodies such as the working group or the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances could be dangerous for relatives seeking the truth.

"Families reporting a disappearance risk reprisals," said Nicholson. "They have to be very brave to do so."

The extent to which disappearances can remain a burning political issue and tear at the social fabric is vivid in the case of Nepal, where 2,500 disappearances have been registered to the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP), which was established to probe such cases in the country following the end of a decade-long civil war in 2006.

Commenting on the situation in Nepal, human rights activist Ram Bhandari said the issue of disappearances still haunts the country.

"The government is fully betraying victims and survivors and has not been honest about implementing the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement to address the legacy of forced disappearances," argued Bhandari, founder of the Network of Families of the Disappeared in Nepal. 

"After years of state denial there is still no closure for families or for society. This might turn into revenge and a cycle of violence."

According to Eva Nudd, who runs the enforced disappearances project at victims-rights organisation Redress, lack of access to justice is one of the most difficult consequences of disappearances for families to live with.

In her view, this is particularly acute in countries such as Sudan and Algeria where alleged perpetrators have received immunity.

Nudd said one of the biggest problems with the definition of enforced disappearances is that such disappearances are defined as being committed by a state - whereas now non-state actors are increasingly becoming perpetrators of disappearances, as is evident in countries such as Libya and Sudan. 

While families are further deprived of the ability to exercise funeral rites and traditions associated with burials, Nicholson said one of the practical problems flowing from disappearances is obtaining documentation for the children of a disappeared person.

She described disappearances as a "continuing violation" since their effects are "felt by families for years and years". Meanwhile, the time-consuming burden of looking for the disappeared person also mostly falls on women who then struggle to carry out their other daily duties.

"In Nepal, however, women have been allowed access to social services without having to produce death certificates," noted Nudd.

Global coronavirus cases surpass 25 million

 LONDON, UK

Global coronavirus cases surged past 25 million on Sunday, according to a Reuters tally, as India marked a worldwide record for daily new cases in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The data showed steady global growth as the disease’s epicentre shifts again, with India taking centre stage from the United States and Latin America.

India’s single-day tally of 78,761 new coronavirus infections on Sunday exceeded the one-day increase of 77,299 reported by the United States in mid-July. The south Asian country’s surge took the global caseload to 25,074,751.

The official number of global coronavirus cases is now at least five times the number of severe influenza illnesses recorded annually, according to World Health Organization data.

Around the world, there have been more than 840,000 deaths, considered a lagging indicator given the two-week incubation period of the virus. That has exceeded the upper range of 290,000 to 650,000 annual deaths linked to influenza.

India, the world’s second-most populous country, is third behind, the United States and Brazil, in total caseload, but has consistently outpaced both in new daily cases since Aug. 7, according to the Reuters tally.

Despite the surging case numbers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been pushing for a return to normalcy to lessen the economic pain of the pandemic, having imposed a strict early lockdown of the country’s 1.3 billion people in March.

The government announced on Saturday that it will reopen underground train networks - a lifeline for millions in the capital city of New Delhi - and allow sports and religious events in a limited manner from next month.

Latin America is the region with the most infections in the world, although some countries in the region are beginning to show a slight decline in infections.

In the United States, metrics on new cases, deaths, hospitalizations and test positivity rates are all declining, but there are emerging hotspots in the Midwest.

The global pace of new infections has steadied a little. It has taken about three weeks for the caseload to jump by 5 million cases to 25 million. That compared with the 19, 24 and 39 days it took, respectively, to add 5 million cases to the 20 million, 15 million and 10 million marks.

The rate of new daily cases has slowed to around 1.2% over August so far. That compared with 1.7% in July, 1.8% in June, 2.1% in May, 4.6% in April and 7.7% in March.

Health experts stress that official data almost certainly underreports both infections and deaths, particularly in countries with limited testing capacity.

While COVID-19’s trajectory still falls far short of the 1918 Spanish flu, which infected an estimated 500 million people, killing at least 10% of patients, experts worry the available data is underplaying the true impact of the pandemic.

South African President to appear before ruling party's integrity commission

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa will appear before the governing African National Congress party’s integrity commission over controversial campaign donations, the deputy secretary of the ruling party said on Sunday.

Ramaphosa has staked his reputation on cleaning up South African politics since he replaced former president Jacob Zuma 2-1/2 years ago, but he has been constrained by factional battles in the ANC, where a section of the party remains loyal to Zuma.

“He [Ramaphosa] has made contact with the integrity committee and he will be presenting himself there for a discussion on the CR17 funds,” said ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte during an interview on eNCA television.

CR17 funds refer to the campaign donations Ramaphosa received in 2017 when he was running for the ANC leadership.

Duarte did not say when the president would appear before the commission.

Members of the ANC have been removed from their posts as a result of the commission’s past recommendations.

South Africa’s anti-corruption watchdog said in a report that Ramaphosa had “deliberately misled” parliament about a 500,000 rand ($35,955) donation he received.

Ramaphosa told parliament at that time that the money was obtained legally for services he provided, but he later amended this by saying the payment was a donation towards his campaign.

The saga has proven a headache for Ramaphosa, providing ammunition for his enemies.

Zuma, facing trial for graft, on Friday accused him of bringing the party into disrepute - a sign of growing divisions within the ANC. The party was holding its national executive committee conference this weekend.

Tanzania opposition to protest mass 'disqualification' of their candidates

By Our Correspondent, DAR ES SALAAM Tanzania

Tanzania’s opposition leaders alleged foul play by President John Magufuli’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party in collaboration with National Election Commission (NEC) as tensions rise in the run up to the general election slated for October 28 this year.

The main opposition party (CHADEMA) and the ACT-Wazalendo (that has majority support in Zanzibar) said hundreds of their candidates were barred after objections filed by the ruling party and easily accepted by the NEC.

“Our parliamentary candidates and those of ACT-Wazalendo countrywide have been unlawfully disqualified,” Chadema Presidential candidate, Tundu Lissu said in his campaign rally. “There’s no credible democratic election without opposition candidates.”

He said following countrywide mass disqualifications of their parliamentary and civic candidates, he called for peaceful nationwide mass protests to demand immediate and unconditional reinstatement of all disqualified candidates.

Magufuli, who is seeking a second five-year term, has won plaudits for improving government efficiency, but faces growing criticism at home and abroad for cracking down on dissent. 

Nevertheless, analysts forecast he will secure a comfortable win if opposition parties do not unite behind one candidate.

Lissu, who launched his campaign Friday, is seen as Magufuli’s main challenger. 

He returned to Tanzania last month from self-imposed exile in Europe after surviving an assassination attempt  outside Parliament in 2017.

Seif Shariff Hamad, the ACT-Wazalendo presidential candidate in the semi-autonomous Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar, told supporters to be prepared for mass action. 

“Enough is enough,” he said of party members being barred from the race.

Wilson Mahera Charles, the Director of the East African country’s National Electoral Commission said the opposition’s allegations would be investigated and pledged “free, fair and credible polls.”

In his statemen, he confirmed that 18 constituent seats has been won by ruling party candidates unopposed following mass disqualification of opposition candidates. - Africa

Kenya's Deputy President to dump 'hijacked' ruling party ahead of 2022 polls

By Our Correspondent, NAIROBI Kenya

Kenya’s Deputy President, William Ruto has given the clearest indication yet that he is done with the ruling Jubilee Party and will be seeking a new outfit for 2022 Presidential elections.

In an interview with The Star on Thursday, Ruto said he was working to solve the issues facing Jubilee but he was ready to consider other options.

"When the President disagreed with Kanu, he formed TNA and when I was done with ODM, I formed URP. In politics, there are always options and I will employ them at the right time," Ruto said by phone.

The Deputy President said he went out of his way to help President Uhuru Kenyatta form a national political party as a way to get rid of "ethnicity, marginalisation and [to] entrench gender balance".

"The party has been hijacked by brokers who are running it through fear. Their word is the party position. The same virus that infected KANU and killed it after the 2002 elections has come to Jubilee," Ruto said.

He added, "The mistake KANU made is that they found themselves with more people outside. [With] the kind of investment we have put in Jubilee, it will be tragic if we lose on the ideals. The biggest loser will be President Kenyatta and me."

This is the first time Ruto has boldly spoken about the troubles in Jubilee after his political union with Uhuru fell apart.

Ruto has been side-lined in Jubilee with some of his key allies, including former Majority leaders Aden Duale and Kipchumba Murkomen, being kicked out of parliamentary leadership positions.

During the interview, Ruto also said that while Uhuru has a solid legacy, his handshake with Opposition leader Raila Odinga has brought in "some new dynamics and disruptions".

"During the first term, the President and I worked closely and we delivered. In the second term, the President chose to work with other people and the difference is clear," Ruto (R) said.

"We have not been efficient as we were in the first term," Ruto said.

The DP seemed to confirm he had been sidelined by Uhuru, saying the difference in government performance during the two terms is clear.

"During the first term, the President and I worked closely and we delivered. In the second term, the President chose to work with other people and the difference is clear," Ruto said.

The DP said he was concerned about the Building Bridges Initiative and the push to change the Constitution. 

He added that he would not support a process in which his legacy would be about changing the Constitution

"This Constitution change push is from the leaders, not from the people. The people are more concerned about their daily living. Jubilee had no policy position. Maybe when the BBI document is released we may tell the people that this is also a priority," Ruto said.

The DP added that those participating in elections must be democrats who do not cause conflict by not accepting the outcome of elections.

"We must not demonise the position of opposition. Assuming you create five positions for five big tribes, aren’t we marginalising the other 33 tribes? The medicine is to nationalise political parties and take the same to the government. My legacy cannot be about changing the Constitution," Ruto said.

His comments came just a day after Uhuru said there was a need to change the Constitution to ensure that it meets the growing aspirations for Kenyans.

"Instead of a cease-fire document that enforces a zero-sum game in which the winner takes it all, the moment calls us to create a constitutional order that will long endure.  And on this, I want to emphasise that we must not go for the populist path. Let us choose the bold path, that path that will assure Kenyans of sustained peace and security, and shared economic prosperity," the President said on Wednesday.

On corruption, Ruto insisted the allegations involving Kemsa have been prosecuted in the wrong forums.

"Corruption is a matter we and Uhuru wanted to be handled differently. We wanted to make independent institutions work. Criminal prosecution cannot be done in the media," the DP said.

He added that the opposition have made a complete 180-degree turn instead of allowing institutions to work.

On claims he is the one who had changed his position, Ruto said he has only been against the Directorate of Criminal Investigations going to the media first with allegations.

"The DPP, the courts, the EACC don’t work under instructions. I was against the DCI sensationalising their investigations. EACC should be given a free hand to do their job. But the general view is investigations should be expedited," Ruto said.

On the issue of the 'deep state', Ruto said that it should be directed to those who always believe that the elections must be stolen. 

"In 2013 and 2017, we won elections fair and square. The 2007 elections was declared in favour of Mwai Kibaki. To know whether elections were fair, it must be subjected to due process through the court. Unfortunately, in 2007 it was not subjected to due process," Ruto said. – The Star