DP Ruto responds to President Kenyatta over remarks on youthful leadership

Deputy President William Ruto has taken his boss President Uhuru Kenyatta head on over his stance about youthful leadership.

The DP described the president’s position as insincere and selfish as he only pushed for self-preservation and creation of positions for leaders.

The deputy president spoke on Thursday as he concluded his two-day tour of the larger Machakos County with political rallies in Yatta and Masinga.

And for the second day running, he pitched for his bottom-up economic model as he sought to popularise the hustler movement crusade.

Coming a day after President Kenyatta cautioned Kenyans against some of those seeking to succeed him next year on a platform of youthful leadership and promises of mega economic revolution, Ruto described the president’s position as meant only to shield and protect leadership positions for a few leaders who he said are power hungry while leaving the masses disenfranchised.

“Mnajua mimi nashindana na hawa wadosi wengi, na saa hizi wamekasirika na mimi eti nimeenda kuchochea watu wa huko chini, nimewaambia wanaweza kupata hii nah ii…eti huyu mtu angewacha kwanza tujipangie mambo ya viongozi, tupange vyeo na mamlaka,” he said.

In subtle jabs directed at his deputy, President Kenyatta said next year’s State House succession race was a marathon, and not a sprint, scoffing at early campaigns that have raised political temperatures.

In what could be seen as a soft endorsement of ODM leader Raila Odinga’s presidential bid, Kenyatta said age was a non-issue.

But in a swift rebuttal, the deputy president warned that as the leaders had ganged up against him, they were equally ganging up against the public.

“Mimi nawauliza mbona sisi tuko na ubinafsi kama viongozi? Tunapanga mambo yetu tunasahau mambo ya raia…kama mnasema tupange vyeo na mamlaka ya viongozi, siku gani tutapanga mambo ya wananchi jameni?” He posed.

DP Ruto has fashioned his State House bid as anchored on the young electorate and the small scale traders.

With other political leaders coalescing around the One Kenya Alliance on one hand and opposition chief Raila Odinga on the other, the deputy president said he was done playing the political kingmaker.

“Saa hizi wananilaumu mimi, eti huyu ameenda kukusanya mahustler huko chini hataki kufanya kazi na wadosi…mimi nauliza nyinyi, tumefanya kazi siku nyingi, uchumi inapangwa huko juu na wadosi, mimi nimesema imefika wakati wa kubadilisha model ya uchumi. Tumepanga ile ya kutoka juu wananchi wanangojea chini haijafika kwa miaka hamsini,” he said.

Storming Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s backyard, the DP maintained his opposition to regional political parties which he described as the key to divisions.

“Tusikubali kuambiwa ati nyinyi ni wa kabila hii endeni chama ile, hiyo ni mpango wa kutugawanya ndio watu wachache waendelee kututumia wapate vyeo na mamlaka wananchi wakihangaika,” said Ruto.

Ruto pledged to transform the agriculture sector by ridding off brokers and cartels that continue to siphon farmers profits.

He equally vowed to pump in billions of shillings in economic sectors to help youth with gainful employment.