The firebrand Narc Kenya party Leader Martha Karua on Wednesday launched a blistering onslaught against Deputy President William Ruto for undermining President Uhuru Kenyatta.
At the same time, Karua said she cannot support Deputy President William Ruto in his bid for the country’s top seat. She said some of the challenges facing the DP cannot allow her to do so.
“Those are my personal views and there are many issues and some of them surround involve Chapter 6 of the constitution,” said Karua.
Hosted on Citizen TV’s State of the Nation show, the former Gichugu MP had no kind words for the DP for claiming he had deployed his cronies to discredit and disrespect the president.
“The DP cannot distance himself from his supporters. It should be in his best interest to ensure that the presidency is respected,” Karua stated.
Her sentiments come after a section of politicians affiliated to the DP, popularly known as Team Tangatanga, launched a series of attacks against the President. She further cautioned Ruto against the purge against Uhuru noting that the DP is part of the presidency even if he is not the president.
“For anyone garnering for presidency in 2022, unless you get your troops to respect the presidency… do you expect to sit on a seat that has been devalued?,” Karua posed.
Karua also questioned politicians from Mt Kenya who have in the past attacked Uhuru over alleged sidelining in development agendas. “What is the role of our MPs and are they performing their duties properly?
She advised those questioning the issues of development to equally stand accountable to the electorate.
“Those who were lucky enough to have been elected to leadership and especially to Parliament where planning for development is done should not just cry out to the public; Let them put some of that energy into the planning processes in parliament.
Karua equally defended Jubilee’s development agenda in the Mt Kenya region noting that the government has launched a lot of projects although some have stalled.
“I think the stalled projects is a question of liquidity. But when one or two MPs complain about development, it is taken to be a central Kenya thing. Complaints about development will always be there as it can never be enough,” she concluded.
The former Justice Minister, who supported the re-election of Jubilee leaders in 2017, was however keen to note that she wholly supports President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“To support them (President Kenyatta and DP Ruto) as a duo was a difficult decision. His choice of a deputy was his not mine,” she said.
In regards to the much publicised handshake between the President and NASA leader Raila Odinga, Ms. Karua said it was necessary so that Kenyans from across the political divide would put aside their differences.
She reiterated what she termed as tense moments in the country at the time that were not good for development. According to her, the handshake does not in any way impede the ambitions of those in the 2022 State House race.
The Narc leader further urged politicians to respect the presidency saying that the current backlash from the Kenyatta-Odinga peace deal devalues the seat.
“How will you then ask Kenyans to show respect to you and the Presidency if you ever get the chance to sit on it?” she posed.