Ruto labels Uhuru 'rebel leader,' praises court ruling barring him from politics

President William Ruto has renewed his attacks on his predecessor, retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, this time labelling him a rebel leader who has refused to embrace the role of a statesman.

Welcoming a High Court ruling that barred Kenyatta from holding office in a political party, President Ruto said his former boss had brought shame to the office of the president that he previously occupied.

Ruto, who was leading his re-election campaign in Siaya County, also called on Kenyans to shun opposition leaders, accusing them of playing guesswork with the future of the country.

“Mimi nashangaa, mtu ambaye amekuwa Rais wa Kenya, unaacha kiti ya Rais, badala ya kwenda kuwa statesman, unaenda kuwa rebel leader, kiongozi wa upinzani. Mpaka saa hii korti inamwambia atoke,” President Ruto stated.

The President added that Kenyatta had disgraced the highest office in the land and accused him of continuing to sponsor the opposition in an effort to destabilise his government.

“Imagine surely hiyo ni aibu kubwa. Na sasa ati amekodesha Orengo hapa, hao watu wa Linda Sponyo. Gavana Orengo awachane na maneno ya Linda Sponyo, kama Uhuru Kenyatta hakunishinda akiwa Rais ataninishinda saa hii kweli?” Ruto posed. 

President Ruto has previously fired a string of salvos at Kenyatta and KANU Chairman Gideon Moi, accusing them of sponsoring the opposition.

Turning to the opposition brigade, President Ruto, who was in Siaya, ODM party leader Dr. Oburu Odinga's backyard, called on Kenyans to dismiss the opposition.

“Wale majamaa wengine wanataka kucheza kamari ya patapotea na nchi yetu. Watu ambao hawana mpango, hawana sera, hata akili yao ni kidogo. Kenya is too important. Our nation is too important to be left to games of guesswork,” Ruto stated.

ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga also criticised opposition leaders, questioning their political parties and agendas.

“Hao watu wenye hawana chama ndiyo wanasema watakutoa kwa kiti? Chama hawana. Ajenda hawana,” Wanga stated.

National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed also weighed in on the opposition's internal divisions.

“Gavana ya hapa wanapigana na Sifuna, wanauliza nani party leader, nani party leader. Wanakula kwa jikoni ya Uhuru,” Junet highlighted. 

The leaders who accompanied the President praised him for launching several development projects in the region while drumming up support for his re-election.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said the President had demonstrated that he was a friend of the people of Siaya.

“Wewe umetuonyesha wewe ni rafiki wetu wa kweli. Watu wote wa Siaya wameungana isipokuwa mtu mmoja tu. Si huyo aende?” Wandayi stated.

Treasury CS John Mbadi said the Luo community would not support what he described as criminals in the 2027 election.

“Hii jamii ya Wajaluo hakuna siku watapigia majambazi kura. 2027 tutatembea pamoja,” Mbadi stated.

Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo also pledged support for the President.

“Hapa Rais tunataka kusema tuko tutam kwa sababu ya ile kazi umetufanyia,” Omollo stated.

The President launched the construction of the Kalandi-Ka Elija Road and Rabongo Usenge Road and inspected the construction of the Dhogoye Bridge in Bondo Constituency.