Deputy President William Ruto has warned opposition leader Raila Odinga telling him to stop meddling with Jubilee Party affairs and stick to his role as the chief opposition leader.
Speaking on Sunday at Sinonin Primary school in Eldama Ravine, Baringo County, when he attended a Sunday service-cum-fundraiser, Dr. Ruto warned those castigating his office saying that he was duly elected with President Uhuru Kenyatta as the Deputy President hence should be given time to serve the nation as he fully understood his mandates.
Deputy President William Ruto speaks to residents during an inter-denominational prayer service, Sinonin, Eldama Ravine, Baringo County on Sunday, July 7, 2019. Photo/COURTESY
“No one else swore using the Bible to discharge duties of the deputy president but me … And everyone else should focus on their mandates. If you are an opposition leader, do your job as an opposition leader stop meddling with my work,” Ruto said.
Ruto was indirectly responding to the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga together with his ODM camp who have been so vocal against the DP accusing him of derailing President Uhuru’s Big 4 Agenda through his early campaigns.
ODM leaders led by James, Suba MP John Mbadi and the party’s General secretary Edwin Sifuna have been on the forefront calling for William Ruto’s resignation as the DP saying that Ruto had failed in his mandate to deliver as the Deputy President.
Ruto told them off saying that those questioning his loyalty and how he has been operating in Government do not understand his roles well since they were only used to Vice President’s roles before the passing of the 2010 new constitution.
“I am the first deputy president in the history of the country. Those who came before me were vice-presidents. I do not blame those who are questioning how I operate since they have never seen a deputy president in their lives,” Ruto said.
Ruto said that there were those leaders who had been paid to bring Jubilee party to its kneels before 2022 and they were always working so har4d to make the Jubilee Party look like it is in a crisis.
The DP added that it was hard to separate the politicians from politicking since that was the reason they were elected to political seats. He added that they will ensure that 2022 politics are done in line with developments for the benefits of Kenyans.
Ruto used the tour to launch the construction of Chemususu Water Supply Project in Eldama Ravine town that seeks to address water shortage in the region and later opened a multipurpose hall at Eldama Ravine Girls Secondary School.
Ruto was accompanied to the region by Water and Sanitation Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui, Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis, MPs Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Moses Lessonet (Eldama Ravine), William Cheptumo (Baringo North), Daniel Tuitoek (Mogotio), John Muchiri (Manyatta), David Gikaria (Nakuru East) and former Tiaty MP Asman Kamama.