Wetang'ula backs Ruto anti-graft remarks, says it's a game changer

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has called President William Ruto’s fresh onslaught against corruption a game changer in the country's efforts to kill bribery, extortion and embezzlement.

The speaker on Saturday said President Ruto's latest remarks on his war against corruption are welcome as “the most lethal weapon” to address entrenched corruption in the country to free resources for development.

''The President is working very hard to tackle corruption so there are resources to build the country, the corrupt have three options, just as the President said," Wetang'ula said on Saturday.

Ruto recently said the corrupt have three options: go to jail, flee the country or be sent to Heaven, a euphemism for death.

His comment created an uproar from the opposition and civil society about trashing the Constitution and extrajudicial killings.

Wetang’ula was attending the Kajiado West homecoming ceremony for Isaac Salat, office administrator for Wetang’ula’s chambers.

Wetang'ula said Ruto did not make any mistake in his remarks, adding the war against corruption must be won, freeing resources for meaningful development.

"Pray for our President as he fights corruption so the money that has been stolen can come and develop the country,'' he said.

Wetang'ula also rubbished claims by the opposition that Ruto has put the country on early 2027 campaigns, saying President Ruto is working for the country.

"Ruto is a working president. In the last one year, he has toured the country more than Uhuru did in 10 years," Wetang'ula said.

"Those people accusing the president of putting the country in a campaign mood should know that he is a working President."

The opposition has criticised Ruto's countywide tours, terming them political and aimed at shoring up his support ahead of the 2027 polls.

Wetang'ula, the former Bungoma senator, also said his Bungoma backyard delivered the presidency to Kenya Kwanza during the presidential election.

"When I joined Ruto, his rating in Bungoma was 11 per cent but it increased to 79 per cent. The difference between Ruto and Raila was the Bungoma votes," he said.

The speaker said that the race between Ruto and Raila was tight ahead of the 2022 polls but the dynamics changed in favour of the President following his decision to team up with Kenya Kwanza.

Wetang'ula who worked with Raila in the 2013 and 2017 polls, said they had planned so well for 2022 because they knew Raila' Odinga’s weaknesses manifested in ODM and Azimo.

"I had worked with Raila in 2013 and 2017 and we knew that he was not going to win. We had planned well because we knew Raila was always disorganised. He campaigned so hard but when it got to the Election Day, he did not have agents," he said.

The speaker said the election of Ruto sent a clear message that in Kenya anybody can rise from nothing to become the head of state.

"By voting for Ruto, a son of a nobody, we wanted to break the record and the dynasty in Kenyan politics that you can't be president unless your father was president, vice president or prime minister," Wetang'ula said.

"Even if you Google for a year, you can't find the name of Ruto's father anywhere."

Now the doors are open and anyone can be president and you need not be the son of a big man, but you must be a man with a big vision, Wetang'ula said.

The speaker also attributed their win to their indefatigable prayers and hard work, which he contrasted with the Azimio side.

 "There was no Sunday we did not go to church and pray. When Uhuru and Raila were doing one rally a day, we were doing seven," he said.

"We traversed this country and God helps those who help themselves. You can't just say there is a deep state or system. The people of Kenya are the system."