President William Ruto has urged former President Uhuru Kenyatta to refrain from activities that undermine the current administration.
He accused his predecessor of undermining his office and supporting efforts to mobilize citizens against the government.
Speaking to members of the public in Sindo town on Thursday, Ruto appealed to Kenyatta to respect the office he previously held and allow the current administration to implement its development agenda.
“Surely, my brother, you are lowering the dignity of the office of the former president. You are lowering your own dignity as a person,” Ruto said.
The President referred to what he described as attempts to mobilise citizens to oppose the government, saying such activities risk creating further problems in the country.
Ruto alleged that Kenyatta had spent the past four years undermining and sabotaging his administration, including through demonstrations and efforts involving the Linda Mwananchi movement and other parties.
“I want to request you in all humility. It has reached a point where even the court has ordered you to stop the sabotage, stop undermining the administration,” Ruto said.
He however criticised the economic and development record of the Kenyatta administration, claiming that the former government left the country with a struggling economy and significant debt.
According to Ruto, his administration inherited an economy burdened by debt and has since taken steps to stabilise it.
He said his administration has stabilised the economy, repaid a substantial portion of the country’s debt, reduced inflation and doubled foreign-exchange reserves.
“My brother, the economy that you left in tatters, we have stabilised that economy,” Ruto said, while highlighting what he described as progress in education, healthcare, housing and infrastructure.
Ruto pointed to developments in the education sector, saying his administration had recruited 100,000 teachers and also ensured the construction of 23,000 classrooms nationally.
He said the government had also worked to improve public understanding and implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
On housing, Ruto said the government had made significant progress under its affordable housing programme, noting that 300,000 houses had been built so far.
He also pointed to the construction of 600 markets across the country, including a completed facility in Sindo, as evidence of the government’s development agenda.
The President highlighted plans to improve accommodation for students in higher-learning institutions, noting that the government was constructing 180,000 hostel spaces for students in universities, Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
Ruto further defended his administration’s approach to healthcare, accusing the previous government of failing to achieve universal healthcare and promising that his administration would continue addressing gaps in the sector.
The President’s remarks also touched on his political relationship with Kenyatta. Ruto said he had supported Kenyatta during his presidency and expected reciprocal political support under an understanding that the two leaders would each serve for 10 years.
“I supported you, I worked for you but when the time came for you to join hands with me, you never showed up,” Ruto said, referring to Kenyatta’s decision not to support his presidential bid.
He added, however, that Kenyatta’s decision was within his democratic rights. “I have no issue that you did not support me because it is your democratic right,” Ruto said.
Ruto urged Kenyatta to allow the government to continue implementing its programmes, and challenged him to put the interests of the country ahead of their political differences.
“The country is bigger than any individual, including you. Let Kenya move forward,” he said.
by Sitna Omar
