It’s not written that Ruto must be president – Ngunjiri Wambugu

Deputy President William Ruto has no lock on the presidency and should quit the 2022 race if he cannot campaign within "the reality". 

That's what Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu said on Monday.  

The government will not relent in fighting corruption and pursuing cohesion so that Ruto becomes president, Wambugu said.

Instead, Ruto's ambition for State House can be sacrificed, he said.

"It is not written anywhere that he (Ruto) must be President," Wambugu wrote on his Facebook Page.

“Kenya is more important than any single person’s ambition, including his (Ruto's) ambition).” 

Ruto and his allies claim the war on graft is aimed at derailing his 2022 presidential bid.

Wambugu said no community was being targeted in the fight against corruption.

He said of the 115 already charged with corruption, 43 were Kikuyus, 18 Luos, 11 Kalenjins, six Kambas, six Merus and five from the Abagusii community. There are three Taitas and two each from Mijikenda and Aembu.

Borana, Sabaot, Ilchamus, Maasai, Duruma, Somali, Pokomo and Digo have one suspect each, Wambugu said.

He accused Kalenjin political leaders headed by Ruto, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen of trying to make Kenyans believe the anti-graft war was targeting their community.

He said none of the suspects stole public finds and shared the loot with their community.

Ruto and allies are facing strong criticisms for taking a swipe at the investigating agencies to frustrate the war on graft.

On Saturday, Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua said the DCI is going about the investigations in the wrong way. The MP is an ally of the DP.

He said investigators and prosecutors communicate to the public on their work through a charge sheet.

“Do investigations quietly. Don’t do investigations through the media. There are no investigations that are done that way anywhere in the world,” Gachagua told the DCI and DPP.

“Do a proper investigation, prepare the file, and take it to court. There are court reporters there that will pick the details from the file and then they can tell Kenyans what has been stolen by who.”

Gachagua said the DCI previously told Kenyans Sh9 billion had been stolen from NYS but when suspects were taken to court, they were charged with the loss of less than Sh100 million. "This is the danger of prosecuting people through the media," he said.

“You mess yourself up and you look like you don’t know what you are doing.”