Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, addressed reports that President Uhuru Kenyatta was looking to extend his rule past 2022.
Speaking during the burial of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua’s mother, Martha Kirigo, DP Ruto made it clear that neither the president nor himself had any intentions of amending the constitution to allow him to remain in power.
"Jubilee haina njama, haina mpango ama ratiba yoyote ya kubadilisha katiba kuondoa two-term limit (Jubilee has no scheme nor hidden ploy to amend the constitution to do away with the two-term limit)," he stated.
The ruling party's deputy party leader went on to laud the president for spearheading development projects and urged the country to back the duo to deliver on their promises before their second term winds up.
"Uhuru believes in democracy. Our constitution is one that represents each and every Kenyan. All these stories are just rumours being spread by individuals with ill-intentions, they should just look elsewhere," he reiterated.
"He has a legacy to protect and he is not interested in changing the constitution to perpetuate matters that are personal. He has done a good job, look at all the roads he has developed," Ruto added.
His comments came soon after Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua gave a detailed history of his family's loyalty to the Kenyatta's.
"I have voted for Uhuru during four general elections. Even when he didn't stand a chance, my family backed him. It is not right for people who have just joined our Jubilee Party to try and coach me on how I should support the president," the legislator stated.
The deputy president steered clear of some of the heated political narratives that took centre stage at the funeral, where Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika was vocal in her criticism of the president.
"Whatever the legislator (Alice Wahome) said about the president is true. I have heard people saying she was disrespectful, she wasn't. What she said about the president is what we have all been hearing in the streets," she stated during her address.
However, the DP focused on grieving with the family as well as sharing Uhuru's message.
