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
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