Deputy President William Ruto has escalated the differences between him and his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta, that played out on Madaraka Day.

Ruto now alleges the Head of State was at pains to explain the progress of some projects that were being undertaken by the Jubilee administration. 

Ruto, while addressing European Union Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger, and other diplomats at his Karen office on Thursday, June 2, argued that the President had been reduced to a lame duck. 

He stated that Uhuru deviated from comprehensively addressing the Big 4 Agenda which was allegedly hampered by the handshake between him and Azimio La Umoja presidential aspirant, Raila Odinga. 

European Union Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger (left) shakes hands with DP William Ruto at his Karen home on Thursday, June 2, 2022

DPPS

His response came a day after Uhuru snubbed him on Madaraka Day, failing to salute him and going further to accuse him of corruption and land grabbing.  

“There are nearly five issues we have to sort out as the Kenya Kwanza alliance and I am happy the President indicated some areas of progress, projects we started together in 2013. 

“But what did not come out clearly was the Big Four Agenda because the handshake completely annihilated it. That is why he (Uhuru) did not mention the Big Four Agenda yesterday,” Ruto stated. 

A spot check on Uhuru’s speech indicated that the President highlighted funding his projects with loans and debts in order to speed up their completion. The Big Four Agenda was centred on food security, affordable housing, manufacturing, and affordable healthcare. 

The President split the four and addressed them in detail, explaining how his government achieved success on all the fronts. He added that his administration heavily invested in infrastructure.

“Why has my tenure in office seen so much emphasis on transformative programmes and reforms in healthcare, education, agriculture, energy, titling of land, housing, social protection, affirmative action, commerce and industry, and the ease of doing business? Why the Big Four Agenda?

“We have done all this because they are interrelated aspects of our national life that are tied together by a singular golden thread; areas of challenges that can become the engines that drive Kenya into a more just and prosperous future,” Uhuru explained.  

While speaking on corruption, the President tore into his deputy, accusing him of land grabbing. His point of focus was a strip of land near Uhuru Gardens which both Uhuru and Raila alleged had been seized by the DP. 

Nonetheless, the matter has never been proven beyond sufficient doubt and has always been treated as political rhetoric. The land in contention hosts Ruto’s Weston Hotel. 

“Land matters were handled using a manual registry, the Ministry of Lands thus became a den of corruption. Part of the Wilson Airport here had a title deed registered in the name of a private individual," Uhuru trolled his DP.

European Union Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger and DP William Ruto pose for a photo with other diplomats and Kenya Kwanza leaders at the DP's Karen home on Thursday, June 2, 2022  DPPS

“When corruption festers in government, you cannot fight it from the court of public opinion. You must fight it from the inside out. That is why the leaders we elect must have the credentials and will to continue the clean-up we started,” Uhuru stated as he vouched for Martha Karua, an anti-graft crusader, while at the same time poking holes at the DP and his allies. 

In his response, the DP concurred with Uhuru that fighting graft is a priority, but claimed that the war had been personalised under the President’s tenure.

“Covid billionaires escaped because they were friends with those saying they want to fight corruption. Corruption should be institutionalised not weaponised or personalised,” Ruto stated.

To counter Uhuru endorsing Raila’s running mate, Martha Karua, as Kenya’s first female deputy president, Ruto insisted on achieving the two-thirds gender rule saying his Cabinet will comprise 50 per cent women. By John Mbati, Kenyans.co.ke