President Uhuru Kenyatta came out strongly telling about his relationship with his Deputy President William Ruto clearing rumours that he had left DP Ruto in the cold following his March 9th handshake with Raila Odinga.
While at Kapsabet showground in Nandi President Kenyatta said, “What I told you here last time is the same: newspapers will write things. Let us look at what we are doing. What is important is your lives. Let them write what they want but I don’t care. I will still sleep at night.”
In addition Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said, “We are still believing in the 10-year plan. We do not question what you tell us. We will support the Big Four agenda and once your term ends your deputy will take over. We still trust the 2012 pact is still intact.”
According to Nandi Governor Stephen Sang “The last time you were here, you indicated clearly that once you are done with your second term you will let you deputy take over. We have no reason to doubt that,” Mr Sang said.
The President was visiting his deputy’s Nandi stronghold in the Rift Valley for the first time since the election.
The lasttime time the President was in the region was after last year’s polls at the military training school in the outskirts of Eldoret town in his role as commander-in-chief of the defence forces.
Mr Ruto has also insisted that he fully supports the March 9 Building Bridges initiative between the President and Nasa leader Raila Odinga,”We will support you in all your endeavours. You told me when we met (in 2012) that even if we don’t win elections let’s leave a united Kenya. You will leave a legacy of a united country. We are proud to be part of your team,” He said
President Kenyatta said uniting Kenya and achieving the Big Four would create jobs for the youth. “We cannot achieve this without peace and unity. Peace for development, unity for progress. I thank you for supporting this quest for unity,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen said the falling out was a creation of the media.
“You will be remembered more for bringing together all tribes of Kenya than anything else. It did not start this year but in 2012 when you agreed to work with your deputy,” Mr Murkomen told the President.
Mr Kenyatta promised tough action against cartels in the grain sector. “Instead of taxpayers money being paid to genuine farmers it is given to some traders importing maize from Mexico or other countries. This must come to an end. We will not pay brokers anymore, we will pay the farmers who have shed sweat,” he said.