I’m just a phone call away! - DP Ruto responds to Uhuru

Deputy President Wiliam Ruto has responded to criticism from his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta, over Ruto’s ostensible failure to assist in solving the country’s problems.

During his Labour Day speech on Sunday, Mr. Kenyatta launched a scathing attack on his deputy over what he described as failure to assist in solving the country’s problems, but instead using them to criticise his presidency.

The Head of State was referring to DP Ruto’s previous comments on the ongoing fuel shortage, the Head of State said the crisis is as a result of the Ukraine-Russia tensions which are beyond his control.

President Kenyatta said DP Ruto should bring solutions to the table instead of using problems as a campaign platform to blame and “insult” his senior.

“Mambo yamekuwa magumu sio tu kwa nchi yetu…Mamilioni ya watu dunia mzima walipoteza maisha yao na mamilioni wengine zaidi kupoteza kazi zao. Hiyo haikuwa kwa sababu ya Uhuru ama mtu mwengine," said Mr. Kenyatta.

“Wakati tumejaribu kuona tutafanya aje tujiokoe na tumeanza kuona barabara sasa, wengine walianza vita ambavyo hatuelewi na imesababisha bei ya mafuta kupanda na kutuletea shida zingine,” he added while referring to the tension between Russia and Ukraine.

He further noted: “Badala ya viongozi kuketi waseme watasuluhisha vipi, wengine wanaenda huko kuincite wananchi ati waulize Uhuru. Yaani, mimi niko Ukraine jameni? Mimi nilitoa COVID huko nikaleta? Badala ya kuja kunisaidia na mawaidha tuokoe watu wetu, wewe uko kwa soko na matusi?”

According to Mr. Kenyatta, the DP would have instead relinquished his role and given him the freedom to choose another deputy who would assist him in charting the way forward for the country.

“Na unajiita kiongozi na pia ati wewe ni namba ngapi katika nchi?... Basi si ungewacha mimi nitafute mtu ambaye angenisaidia? Wewe unajua hii sio shida ya mtu, uko wapi wakati mimi nakuhitaji?”

In an apparent reference to Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga, Mr. Kenyatta said the former opposition chief had made substantial efforts in redeeming the country as his close associate, more than Dr. Ruto as deputy president.

DP Ruto, in a tweet just moments after the culmination of the fete, blamed the president’s frustrations on people he “assigned (Ruto’s) responsibilities”, who he said have ended up failing him “miserably”.

“Sorry my Boss.I feel your pain.Those you assigned my responsibilities & 'project' mzee have let you down miserably.They bangled our Big 4, killed our party & wasted your 2nd term.Wao ni bure kabisa,” wrote Ruto,

He further went on to tell the president that he is available should he want to reach out, writing: “Boss,am available. Just a phone call away.Sadly last cabinet was 2yrs ago. Yule No. 2.”

At recent events around the final journey of the late president Mwai Kibaki last week, Kenyatta and Ruto shook hands with others but themselves, instead bowing with hands clasped.

The gesture was construed as a signal of the frosty relations between the two that has been simmering ahead to the August General Election.