President Kenyatta: I will hand over power smiling, but Raila is my leader

President Uhuru Kenyatta now says that he will gleefully hand over the reins to president-elect William Ruto on September 13, 2022, when his former deputy takes his oath of office.

Speaking on Wednesday when he met Azimio One Kenya Alliance politicians for a Parliamentary Group meeting in Kajiado County's Maasai lodge, the outgoing president noted that he will respect the transfer of power from his administration to Ruto's since it is one of the most important processes in Kenya's democracy.

According to President Kenyatta, a peaceful transfer of power is the ulti­mate expres­sion of the rule of law and of a soci­ety governed by the law and not by indi­vidual rulers.

"You have denied yourself the opportunity of bringing the country together. You haven't denied Raila. Mimi I will hand over power smiling because it is constitutional. Aluta continua. Mimi nitaenda nihand over lakini kiongozi wangu ndio huyu hapa," the president said according to a source privy to the details of the meeting, who spoke to Citizen Digital on condition of anonymity.

With MPs and Senators expected to elect their respective House Speakers tomorrow, President Kenyatta urged the newly-elected leaders, voted into office on an Azimio ticket, to back candidates nominated by the Odinga-led party in order to ensure that the political outfit has more sway in Parliament and the Senate than Kenya Kwanza.

"I want you to stand together and resist attempts of being bought. Kesho nataka kuona kama mko Azimio kwa sababu mlikuja mkasema tuko Azimio. Kama ulichaguliwa na Azimio, simama na Azimio," said President Kenyatta.

The Head-of-State likewise identified former Speaker Kenneth Marende and Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka as his two preferred candidates for the positions of National Assembly and Senate Speaker respectively.  

"Kesho tunakazi, Leo ni kupanga. Marende cares for members' welfare and Kalonzo, if justice had been done, he would have been a very good chief minister, he will be a very good representative of our agenda in the Senate," he said.