Deputy President William Ruto hit back at Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju after the latter reached out to him through a phone call to discuss the ongoing crisis in the party.
While speaking with Citizen TV's Waihiga Mwaura on Tuesday night, September 8, Tuju disclosed that he called the DP to confront him over the attacks made on Mama Ngina Kenyatta by MPs Oscar Sudi and Johanna Ng'eno.
Tuju questioned the DP's approach in handling the issue which escalated after Ng'eno (Emurua Dikirr MP) was arrested.
The DP tweeted and reprimanded leaders who launched insults at women. However, Tuju stated that he asked the DP to come out and publicly speak against the matter rather than posting it on social media.
"I took it up with the Deputy President and we had a discussion on it. I made my decision very clear. Some of these things are being done using his name. He has to come out and be contrite about this issue
"No buts, no ifs, hitting about the bush and trying to be very clever about it. He told me that he had tweeted about it but I don't believe that will satisfy infuriated people," Tuju stated referring to groups which asked Ruto to publicly make a statement.
ODM further accused the DP of orchestrating the attacks on the head of state.
When asked whether he came to an agreement with Ruto on how the DP will handle the debacle, Tuju stated that the DP asked him to correct President Uhuru Kenyatta allies who have also been constantly attacking and abusing him.
The DP specifically pinpointed Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe who dragged him into the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency graft scandal. Murathe and Ruto also traded words in a public spat.
"The issue of Murathe cannot be equated with taking on the former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta. The former First Lady is nobody’s peer in this country today," Tuju defended.
Ruto’s camp vehemently defended the DP against Tuju, arguing that Ruto reached out to Tuju as opposed to the Secretary General's claims.
Digital strategist Dennis Itumbi accused Tuju of fabricating stories on live TV. Itumbi detailed that Ruto called Tuju to ascertain why Jubilee Party headquarters had been closed down for over seven months.
"Tuju did not pick Ruto's calls. Why would he lie? Tuju, later on, returned Ruto's phone calls and the DP told him he (Ruto) will be working from the party headquarters next week and would wish to meet him or whoever is available when he arrives. All other claims being made by Tuju are false!" Itumbi hit back.
Watch Tuju speak on DP Ruto
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