Africa-Press – Kenya. Health CS Aden Duale has told off former President Uhuru Kenyatta over what he termed as undermining President William Ruto. Duale has called on Uhuru to stay at his Ichaweri home and stop going round to politically ‘backstab’ his successor.
Duale claimed Uhuru’s choice of words was not befitting the status of a retired President. “I heard him recently saying if anyone pokes him in the eye, he would also do the same, and I don’t think that should be the kind of language from a former president,” Duale said.
Duale was responding to remarks Uhuru had made at the funeral of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo in Lugari a week ago. Uhuru did not mention names but made it clear he would not remain silent when provoked, just because he is retired.
He pushed back against the notion that retirement from active politics meant he could be openly attacked without response. “Sitaki kusema mengi mnajua mimi ni mstaafu lakini kusema mimi ni mstaafu si kusema uniingize kidole kwa macho, mimi pia ntakuingiza.
Hatuogopi. Tuheshimiane. Hio ndio njia ya kujenga nchi,” he said. Duale said the former presidents, the late Moi and Kibaki, had retired honourably and died with respect, but wondered why Uhuru was still active in politics.
The CS was speaking during the 11th graduation at the Madarasatul Hayat school in Eldoret, where he was with Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet and CEO of the MTRH Dr Phillip Kirwa.
Duale claimed Uhuru had frustrated Ruto while he served as DP, and not that they would not allow him to do the same while in retirement. “I worked in that government, and I know how Uhuru frustrated President Ruto,” Duale claimed.
He claimed that Uhuru and former VP Kalonzo Musyoka were currently in Nigeria for political reasons. He said Ruto would defeat Uhuru and his allies come the elections in 2027 because the current president had performed far better than all his predecessors.
“If we defeated him when he had all the government machinery, this time we will deal with him very easily and very early,” Duale said. Duale said some people in the country hated the President because he works for the good of all Kenyans, including those who did not vote for him.
“When roads are developed in Nyanza, which did not support him (Ruto), the roads are also done in central, where he got many votes,” Duale said. He said Ruto was working for equity and equality across the country and claimed that all previous governments had been biased.
He said it was Ruto who had eased access by muslims to national IDs and other documents, adding that muslims would ensure they vote for Ruto to get a second term.
“He has helped muslims and the only way to thank him is to vote for him next year,” Duale said.
Farouk also asked Uhuru to keep off politics and urged Kenyans to shun leaders who were not spreading the message of unity in the country. He hailed Duale for standing with President Ruto and working for all Kenyans.
“Duale is not like those other tribalists who always want to divide Kenyans along ethnic lines,” Farouk said.
“We want all Kenyans to be like the muslims who love peace and care about the welfare of everyone,” Farouk said.
He said President Ruto loved all Kenyans, including muslims and christians and that in his leadership, Ruto had always ensured the equality of all Kenyans.
