Africa-Press – Kenya. Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja has revealed how the Deputy President William Ruto had a hard time convincing his supporters to rally behind President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013.
Appearing for an interview on a local TV station on Wednesday, November 24, Sakaja stated that Ruto had an uphill task explaining why he had opted to support the candidature of Uhuru while at a meeting in Eldoret.
He stated that many of the DP’s supporters believed that Ruto was best suited for the job at the time and wanted him to have a stab at the Presidency for the first time.
“Willian Ruto had a very difficult time talking to his people at Eldoret Sports club explaining why he had to support Uhuru Kenyatta. It was not an easy decision.
“He had to make it, there are people who believed that he was their expression of political ideals but he had to go to his people,” Sakaja stated.
The senator who is also eying the Nairobi gubernatorial seat added that the DP considered his political future when making the decision to support Uhuru.
“He looked at the numbers, his political trajectory, age and he made that decision. He also moved with the people,” the senator stated.
Additionally, the senator also disclosed revealed that Ruto was among the leaders who pushed for the merger of the defunct URP and TNA parties as the country headed to the 2017 elections.
He explained that Ruto believed that the merger would make them politically stronger even as some of the party members were opposed to the move.
“I remember having a discussion with the deputy president at that time and he told me that even as some of us were resisting, it is only in a big party that our talents would come out,” Sakaja disclosed.
The gubernatorial aspirant, who has in recent months pledged his allegiance to Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader, Musalia Mudavadi, stated that any of the OKA principals would be open to back the DP in the 2022 polls.
“In case OKA principals decide to support one candidate, then that candidate will win. A lot is going to happen. There is no prophet. There is no crystal ball. A lot is happening behind the scenes. He (Musalia Mudavadi) could be Ruto’s running mate. It is his decision. Anything can happen. Kalonzo can also become Ruto’s running mate,”
“The only mistake all these principals will make is when they decide to make a move without their people because your people will never forgive you and you will go alone,” he asserted.
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