Raila Ally Heaps Praise on DP Ruto’s Leadership

Deputy President William Ruto, President Uhuru Kenyatta and AU Infrastructure envoy Raila Odinga in Karen on November 2, 2018.
Deputy President William Ruto, President Uhuru Kenyatta and AU Infrastructure envoy Raila Odinga in Karen on November 2, 2018.
File

Laikipia Governor, Ndiritu Muriithi, has praised the Deputy President William Ruto over his leadership of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC).

Speaking after the meeting that was held at the DP’s Karen Office, Governor Muriithi thanked Ruto for giving IBEC the much needed direction even as most governors near the conclusion of their first and second terms in office.

Mureithi, a close ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta and a campaigner of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga - who is eyeing the country’s top position in the August 9, 2022 polls, expressed his satisfaction in the manner in which the DP steered the council.

x
Former Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi at the burial of his uncle, Samuel Githinji Kbaki in Othaya, Nyeri on Friday, October 29, 2021
Photo
Ndiritu Muriithi

“As you have informed the nation your excellency (Ruto), these are the matters we have discussed and agreed on,” started Mureithi.

“The only thing I can do is to congratulate you on your leadership of the council in ensuring we move forward together.”

In a manner likely to suggest that the expectations of many, who believed the meeting would be a heated confrontation, were not met and that there was no bad blood between the governors and the DP, the Laikipia Governor went ahead to assure the DP that they will continue holding further discussions to move the country forward.

“Some members of the fourth estate, perhaps maybe disappointed because some people feared that the meeting would be stormy and so on, and I want to thank you Your Excellency for proving to all of us and the country that we may have differences of opinion about a variety of issues, however, we as leaders of Kenya at this time, we must always in the execution of our mandates of our offices be able to work in harmony,” state the Governor.

“We must be able to work over and above any differences of political opinion or differences on interpretation of technical data.”

Mureithi was part of the governors including Martin Wambora (Embu), Stanley Kiptis (Baringo), Josephat Nanok (Turkana), Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Paul Chepkwony (Kericho), Anyang Nyong’o (Kisumu), Jackson Mandagor (Uasin Gishu) and Hillary Barchok (Bomet).

The meeting was also attended by the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakango, the Commission on Revenue Allocation Chair, Jane Kiringai, Devolution CS Charles Keter, his Principal Secretary Julius Korir and the National Treasury PS Julius Muia.

Although a number of other members - especially those allied to President Kenyatta’s faction - failed to attend, the meeting proceeded as scheduled.

Governor Muriethi is one of the vocal Mt Kenya leaders opposed to Ruto’s presidency, and have been campaigning for his political rival and the Orange democratic Movement (ODM) leader, Raila Odinga.

Odinga is seen as Kenyatta’s preferred successor when the country goes to the ballot next year. The relationship between the two has blossomed since the March 2018 handshake when the duo agreed to bury their political hatchet for the sake of peace and stability of the country.

On the other hand, the relationship between the President and his deputy has continued to deteriorate, with the latter accusing his bossing of rescinding on his earlier promise to support him in the next year’s polls.

Deputy President William Ruto speaks to Kisumu residents on Wednesday, November 10.
President William Ruto campaigns in Kisumu on Wednesday, November 10, 2021.
(Courtesy)