Deputy President William Ruto has said that the leader of the party which comes second should become the leader of the Opposition.
Speaking in London where he had a public address at Chatham House on Friday, the DP remained adamant that it is not proper that the leader of a party garnering the second highest votes has no formal constitutional role.
It is not proper that the leader of a party garnering the second highest votes has no formal constitutional role. The leader of the party which comes second should become the leader of the Opposition. #CHAfrica
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) February 8, 2019
Kenya has paid a heavy price for a weak Opposition; the worst excesses of government have occurred in seasons when the Opposition was frail. Whether it was Kanu’s Goldenberg Scandal, Narc’s Anglo Leasing or the maize and other scandals that were the hallmark of the early years of the Grand Coalition Government, there is no doubt that unless watched over by a strong opposition, our leaders fall prey to power abuse quickly.
After the March 9 handshake, NASA has appeared to have lost strategic direction.
It has been interesting that even on the various Jubilee misdeeds, it is the internal opposition within Jubilee that has made the greatest noise, CORD appears to have been in slumber.
The DP further said he will not answer former Jubilee Chairman Murathe but is ready to defend his record anywhere.
“I have not responded to Murathe in Kenya and I am not ready to answer him in Europe,” Dr. Ruto said.
Murathe has been on a war path with the DP and even claimed that the Constitution does not allow him to run for the top seat after his term as the second in command expires.
His claims however held no water as the law is categorical that only an individual who holds the position of President for two terms is barred from running again.
On January 6 this year, the man who was seen as a close ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta resigned from his position in the Jubilee ruling party.