Update 15:51: Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday afternoon escalated his tirade against President Uhuru Kenyatta over reports the head of state planned to support a candidate from the opposition coalition NASA.
In an uncharacteristic approach, Ruto took to Twitter where he questioned whether the dismembering of the Jubilee party was designed to enable President Kenyatta support a rival candidate.
He further gave the strongest public statement in support of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) which he has hitherto supported in private.
"Now, with the collapse of Jubilee, isn't it fair for those who can't fit in ethnic parties to build UDA as an alternative national party?" the DP posed.
Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday morning, June 15, responded after President Uhuru Kenyatta vowed to support a candidate fronted by the National Super Alliance (Nasa) to succeed him after the 2022 general elections.
Though the DP previously maintained that nobody owed him anything during the election year, he questioned why the president refused to offer him support.
"So, what happens to the Thurakus, the kumìrà kùmèrà contingent, the 8 million of us? None, no youth, no woman, no man of the 8M who woke up early and voted 3 times for Uhuru Kenyatta/William Samoei Ruto ticket merit support?" Ruto posed.
The DP added that he would rely on God's support and the people of Kenya to win the election.
Ruto's sentiments came a day after the president held a meeting with leaders from the Lower Eastern region at State House and vowed to support the Nasa coalition.
He added that he would be touring the Ukambani region on June 28 and 29.
During the late Kalembe Ndile's burial held on Saturday, June 12, Kitui governor Charity Ngilu advised ODM leader Raila Odinga and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to merge before the 2022 elections.
Ngilu stated that Ruto's chance of success would be higher if Odinga and Kalonzo vied separately.
"How will the Kamba community benefit if they choose to vote for Kalonzo and lose the presidency?” she posed.
Ruto was previously quoted saying that all leaders should seek votes based on their development records and agenda for the people they seek to support.
"As President Kenyatta said correctly yesterday, he has no debt to nobody. He does not have my debt. Uhuru Kenyatta owes me nothing. He owes no community nothing.
"There is only one debt that I share with Uhuru Kenyatta, that is the debt of uniting this country and undertaking the transformation that will see the lives of Kenyans changed and the welfare of our nation moved to the next level," stated the DP.
