UDA flagbearer Deputy President William Ruto on Monday, July 4, responded to the leaked audio that captured him confessing to nearly slapping President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017 after their election was nullified.
Speaking during a rally in Imenti, Meru county, the DP lamented that his opponents had resorted to recording him in private - but defended the contents of the audio - stating he had every right to push Uhuru not to relinquish power.
He stated that at the time, so much was at stake for both he and the President and that it would have been unfair for the head of state to make the sole decision to relinquish the seat just because the Supreme Court had invalidated the presidential election.
"They are now secretly recording people and sharing it all over that Ruto pushed the President. Did you want us to allow him to leave the seat which we woke up at 5 am?" he questioned.
"Even If I forced him, is there any problem? Was it not because he is my friend. Allow me to ask, when Maraga nullified the elections and ordered that we should go for a repeat, did you want him to drop his bid. Would you have allowed him to leave us in the dark after all we did to ensure he wins the seat?
Ruto added that he personally invested too much in the political campaigns for the duo's second term in office and would not allow then NASA flagbearer Raila Odinga to reap from what he did not sow.
"I did the majority of the campaigning, I would hold three meetings before the president joined me. There was no way I would allow Raila to take the seat from him - even if it meant pushing Uhuru to whatever limits, I would," the DP added.
The deputy president's statement after his allies issued statements of solidarity - justifying his firm stance when dealing with his boss.
Nominated Senator David Ole Sankok stated that even in the event that the DP slapped Uhuru, it would be better than Raila supporting him.
"The bible in Proverbs says that a slap from a friend is better than a kiss from the enemy. In any case, there was no slap but had it happened from a friend, it would have been (a good thing) so they are just rumours," Sankok stated.
The Azimio brigade led by flagbearer Raila Odinga, while making reference to the recording, opined that the UDA presidential candidate was unfit to lead the country due to his temper and disrespect for his boss.
Suna East MP stated that the confession confirmed that Ruto had an anger problem and that he would be ruthless to Kenyans and opponents - if elected president in August.
"If Ruto can slap a sitting president, what will he do to the common citizen - that is a very dangerous man whom we must repulse come August 9. We cannot have such a leader as the Commander in Chief of the armed forces," he stated.
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