President Uhuru Kenyatta (right) and his Deputy William Ruto during the
launch of road construction projects in Kapketembu in Nandi County on
December 8, 2016. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto on Thursday
dismissed attempts by opposition politicians to unite against them ahead
of the 2017 election.
They criticised the proposed
National Super Alliance (NASA) — fronted by ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi
and supported by ODM leader Raila Odinga — saying they would readily
defeat them in an election.
Speaking in Nandi,
President Kenyatta laughed off the initiative and said the Jubilee Party
will defeat whatever line-up the Opposition comes up with.
Addressing
several roadside rallies in the county, the President described the
opposition politicians as “self-seekers” only interested in distributing
key leadership positions among themselves.
“This is
their main agenda. They really do not have the interests of the public
at heart,” he said. “I hear some of them want to take my job. Others
have already been promised the deputy president and prime minister’s
positions, amongst others. Let them go on with their plans. We will face
them in 2017. Kenyans are with us. They are happy with our work.”
OPPOSITION 'DIVIDED'
The
President’s salvo came hardly three days after Mr Odinga and Mr
Mudavadi announced in Laikipia that they were planning a united front to
face Jubilee in next year’s elections.
They said they were consulting and will have a formidable super alliance by February.
On Thursday, President Kenyatta laughed off the idea, saying that Jubilee Party was not as divided as the Opposition.
“We
have one President and [one] Deputy President … one manifesto, one
party and one vision which is to end poverty and improve the lives of
Kenyans,” he said and predicted that he will be re-elected and pass the
baton to Mr Ruto.
“We will then be able to continue
with the development projects we have started. Once I complete my term,
my able deputy William Ruto will take over in 2022. He will be in office
for another 10 years,” Mr Kenyatta said.
PROMISES 'FULFILLED'
The
President said Kenyans should reject leaders who kept spreading
propaganda and peddling falsehoods that the Jubilee government had
failed to deliver on its promises.
“We have, for
instance, already built or are in the process of constructing more than
6,000 kilometres of roads. Nandi alone will have more than 200
kilometres of roads.
“Homes that did not have
electricity have now been connected to the national grid ... then some
people keep on telling us that we are doing nothing.
“Let’s
stick with Jubilee because we are committed to improving the lives of
Kenyans. We will develop this country equally without discrimination,”
he told one gathering.
In Tinderet, Mr Ruto told Mr
Odinga to understand that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries
Commission (IEBC) is an independent body that does not take commands
from anyone.
ELECTORAL AGENCY
The
Deputy President said Mr Odinga seems to act as if he does not know
that the IEBC is independent. He was responding to Cord leaders' demand
that the commission be disbanded and reconstituted within two weeks.
Mr Ruto said every Kenyan must respect and submit to the IEBC, the same way all Kenyans respect and submit to the Constitution.
“He
should know that IEBC is not an extension of Cord. IEBC is an
independent body that does not take instructions from anybody and it
will fulfil its mandate according to the law,” he told a rally at
Maraba.
Mr Ruto and President Kenyatta are on a three-day tour of the Rift Valley region.
Elgeyo-Marakwet
Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said Cord had all the time to contribute
positively when Parliament was dealing with the law on the IEBC.
He said Mr Odinga should give space to the electoral commission so that it can continue preparing for the elections.
“What part of independence does Raila not understand?” the senator asked.
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