Deputy President William Ruto has hit back at his boss President Uhuru Kenyatta after he challenged him to quit his post during the Sunday, May 1, Labour Day celebrations.
In a sarcastic statement, Ruto claimed that the Head of State was in pain after being let down by his officers who have occupied the President's inner circle after the March 2018 handshake.
The DP also used the opportunity to castigate the government for allegedly failing on the Big 4 Agenda and enforcing poor policies - but claimed that he was willing to assist when called upon.
"Sorry, my Boss. I feel your pain. Those you assigned my responsibilities and 'project' mzee have let you down miserably.
"They bungled our Big 4, killed our party and wasted your second term. Boss, I am available. Just a phone call away. Sadly last Cabinet was 2 years ago," the DP stated, signing off as "Yule Number Two, instead of his official title.
His response comes just hours after Uhuru's fiery speech accusing him of failing to assist despite being the second in command in government.
“Badala ya viongozi kuketi waseme watasuluhisha vipi, wengine wanaenda huko kuincite wananchi ati waulize Uhuru. Yaani, mimi niko Ukraine jameni? Mimi nilitoa COVID huko nikaleta? Badala ya kuja kunisaidia na mawaidha tuokoe watu wetu, wewe uko kwa soko na matusi? (Instead of some leaders strategising on how to offer solutions, they go to incite citizens to ask Uhuru. Am I in Ukraine? Did I bring Covid into the country? Instead of coming to help me with advice to help our people, you are in the market with insults).
"Na unajiita kiongozi na pia ati wewe ni namba ngapi katika nchi?... Basi si ungewacha mimi nitafute mtu ambaye angenisaidia? Wewe unajua hii sio shida ya mtu, uko wapi wakati mimi nakuhitaji?” Stated the Head of State. (You call yourself a leader and what number (in superiority) are you? You should have let me look for someone to help me. You know this is not anyone's problem, where are you when I need you?).
Earlier, Ruto had, in the past, blamed the high cost of living on the fuel crisis noting that it had partly been brought about by incompetent public officials who collude with cartels.
“The current state of affairs is a clear manifestation of the vestiges of conflict of interest and state capture that is now pervasive in all sectors of our economy," he stated at the time.
In his speech, the President also blamed the high cost of living on the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war which caused disruptions in the supply chain.
He also defended his government arguing that Kenya was among the few countries that protected its citizens from the harsh economic conditions through the use of subsidies.
