'If Kenya fails, we all fail,' President Ruto blasts leaders opposing unity with Raila

President William Ruto has defended his newfound alliance with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party leader Raila Odinga and told off leaders opposing attempts to unite Kenyans.

During the burial ceremony of Baringo Senator William Cheptumo on Saturday, the president said it is time for leaders to put aside their political interests and prioritize a united Kenya. 

Ruto hinted at what is expected in the coming weeks as he pushed for a collaboration agreement with opposition parties, starting with ODM.

"We need to be patriotic about Kenya. We can disagree, but we must never disagree on the destiny of Kenya," Ruto said.

President Ruto told off leaders whom he accused of opposing his attempts to unite the country, even as opposition figures, led by his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, begin building alliances to unseat him from State House.

"It doesn’t matter who you are or what you believe in. We share a country and destiny. If Kenya succeeds, we succeed. If Kenya fails, none of us succeeds," he said.

National Assembly and Senate speakers Moses Wetang'ula and Amason Kingi took cue from the president, targeting his opponents and saying Odinga and Ruto were the key players in the 2022 general election. With their unity now, their support bases should be the first to back them.

"Raila Odinga and William Ruto were the ones on the ballot in 2022. If Ruto and Raila are talking together to bring Kenyans together, why are their supporters getting angry and insulting others? Learn from history. When elephants fight, the grass suffers. Mazrui added that when elephants make love, the grass suffers even more," Wetangula said.

Kindi added, "If we want to move Kenya forward, we must stop dividing Kenyans along ethnic lines or based on where we come from."

Lawmakers who accompanied the president to Baringo dared the parliamentary leadership to table the NADCO report, which, among other proposals, had provisions for the office of the Prime Minister.

"We, as MPs, believe the broad-based government is working. It will stabilize this government. Ichung'wa, bring the NADCO report; we will pass it. We have no time for tribal chiefs," said Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap.

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot said, "The noise you hear in town is because some people were used to having more than others, and they don’t want to see the president bringing equality."

Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina added, "Right now, Mr. President, there are no children from a different house—we are all from one father. We must be united."

President Ruto told mourners in Baringo that the opposition Azimio coalition had a similar manifesto to the one crafted by his coalition, and it was time to merge them for the benefit of the country.

"Azimio and Kenya Kwanza manifestos are the same—on housing, the same; on universal healthcare, the same. Why don’t we come together so Kenya can move forward?" Ruto noted.

The head of state eulogized the late Cheptumo as a leader who championed peace and development and directed the start of the construction of Baringo University as a memorial to the late senator.