President William Ruto now says the shareholding politics advanced by his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, was outdated and had no place in the country.
Though measured in his words, Ruto said the brand of politics could not survive in a country where every Kenyan has equal rights.
The President, while avoiding mentioning names, said some leaders spent most of their time spreading divisive narratives of shareholding and planting ‘traps’ to frustrate any chance for a truce.
Ruto said such politics only serve to balkanise the country.
“Those propagating tribalism, hatred, shares and traps, those who could not deliver to Kenyans, those guys who are incompetent and glorify tribalism, have no place in this nation,” Ruto said in Budalangi, Busia county yesterday.
“Kenya is a country where all people have equal rights.”
Ruto’s statement came days after Gachagua said the President had approved of and tasked him with talking about the matter of share holding in government.
"This issue of shareholding, he’s the one who told me to tell Kenyans that this government is about shares,” Gachagua said over the weekend.
The comments elicited hot debate and were eventually cited in Parliament as part of the grounds for his impeachment.
Ruto maintained that he would not allow the country to be divided along ethnic lines, adding that he formed a broad-based government to promote national unity.
“We have decided – myself, Raila [opposition chief Raila Odinga] and other leaders – to have no business with politics of division, hatred and tribalism but unite so as to transform this country and that is why I formed a broad-based government to unite all Kenyans,” Ruto stated.
The President was speaking during the launch of the extension of the secondary dyke for River Nzoia flood control project.
The President also highlighted his administration’s steps to make life bearable for citizens, showcasing achievements in the areas of agriculture, health, education and electricity connectivity.
Ruto committed Sh130 million to extend the dyke in Budalangi as part of the government’s plan to address the backflow of water in River Nzoia.
The investment also aims to restore arable agricultural land, enabling residents to engage in productive activities.
The project will also safeguard and restore access to vital institutions and infrastructure, including Musoma Primary and Secondary Schools, Mau Mau Trading Centre, Musoma Shopping Centre and households currently at risk of displacement.
Ruto was accompanied by among other leaders Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
The Deputy President called on Kenyans to shun politics of discrimination and tribalism. He said President Ruto has been clear in championing the unity of the country, regardless of political affiliation.
“We must not encourage discrimination in all forms: tribal, religious, gender, age and any facet of discrimination. The President says we are one country, one flag, one people and that is why he has brought together leaders from all factions and we are all pulling towards one direction,” Kindiki said.
Unity will expedite the process of national development, Kindiki added, while urging Kenyans to follow the President’s example and stay united.
“The President strongly believes in the unity of the nation for faster development. We must be a united country as the President has shown us.”
