Embattled KANU Secretary General Nick Salat made a passionate plea to President William Ruto during a thanksgiving ceremony in Bomet County on Sunday, January 15.
Salat, while addressing the crowd, asked Ruto to allow him join his government, pledging to support his administration.
The former legislator who has been in the political cold for close to 15 years recounted his troubled past, stating that he had suffered a lot.
"I know you will be President for 10 years. I saw the great reception that you were accorded in Nyanza and I cannot be left behind. Wherever you are, I will be. I have suffered too long, please accept me back," Salat pleaded with Ruto.
Following his plea, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi lobbied for Salat to join the Kenya Kwanza government.
On his part, Mudavadi asked Ruto to consider absorbing Salat, terming him as a good leader whose loyalty to KANU and its Chair, Gideon Moi, went unappreciated.
The Prime CS divulged the relationship between their parents Isaac Salat and Moses Mudavadi and vouched for the suspended KANU official to be welcomed into the government.
"His father worked very closely with mine. Nick is a good man who has lost a good 15 years and this partnership will make this region better," Mudavadi reiterated.
Gachagua, on the other hand, attested that they worked together when in the post-independence ruling party to support former president Uhuru Kenyatta.
"I was with Nick in KANU where we worked on the Uhuru project. You are a good leader who was used and dumped but in Ruto's house, there is space for everyone," Gachagua stated.
However, Gachagua insisted that for Salat to be incorporated, he needed to commit his allegiance to President Ruto. The vouching came after Salat affirmed his full support for the Head of State.
Ruto confirmed that he needed the support of not only leaders from the region and would work with those willing to do so with him.
"Welcome Nick Salat so that we can work together. If my brother Isaac Ruto agrees, we will also work together and I will organize how that will happen," the President stated.
Notably, the President clarified reports on forming a political pact with the opposition. He explained that he was the head of the nation and not a region.
He added that there was no difference between Kenyans who supported the opposition and leaders in the opposition, affirming that he would not sideline anyone because of their party affiliation.
In December 2022, Moi announced Salat's suspension following a resolution by the party secretariat over his conduct. He was also accused of violating the party Constitution.
The embattled Secretary-General had called for fresh party elections to change the leadership to one that was dynamic and understood the political scene.
His suspension led to a revolt from a section of leaders in Kanu who warned Moi against undertaking unlawful pronouncements on important party issues.
