Openly angry President Uhuru Kenyatta has read a riot act to the defiant politicians allied to Deputy President William Ruto’s lead ‘tangatanga’ team for constant politicking and dared them to toe the line or face political oblivion.
Speaking in his Kikuyu dialect during the Akorino annual church convention service at the Kasarani Sports Center yesterday, President Kenyatta affirmed his focus to unite the country will not be distracted.
The unprecedented direct swipe targeting his deputy and a handful of Central Kenya politicians who have openly declared their support for the DP for the 2022 succession politics, Uhuru’s terse statement is likely to reshape the rather fluid and polarised his Mt Kenya backyard political landscape under his control.
“Naumuthe ndaria na ruga itu nanguthiururuka nanigwira andu, mikora ino tuthurite tureka siasa matigecirie ndi Kihii kiao, twihamue? Namatikundugamia barabara iria ndithondekeire iria ndirenda gukinya na kuria ndirenda gutwara andu aitu na kuria turenda kumakinyia. Nimwanjigua andu aitu? I have spoken in our language and I will go round the country to say them, these thugs we have elected in politics, they should not think that I am their ‘boy’, are we together? And they will not upstage me by roadside political pronouncements. They will not distract me from the path I have decided to follow and where I want to take our people and where we want to deliver them. Are we together my people? Have you heard me properly?If you are an elected leader, go back to the village and build schools with the money allocated to you. Don’t tell us you will be powerful in this country. You will not go anywhere without the support of the electorates.” Uhuru retorted.
Uhuru said those politicking never mobilised support for him, rather, it is the electorates who voted for him.
The President affirmed he is in charge and dared the defiant politicians that he will get them from wherever they go to when time comes.
“Ngurugama na kihoto kiu nginya ndikie wira uhria mwaheire. Giko gike gitige gutinda gikinjia guku. Nie ndirenda thayu nangicariria andu aitu thayu kuria guothe nguuruta nandige ati andu aitu miaka ingi mirongo itano iguka gutire mundu urithinagio haria ari na biashara yake. (I will stand by that decision until I am done with the task you bestowed on me. This dirt should stop bothering me. I want peace and I will look for peace for my people wherever I will find it and ensure for the next fifty years to come, no one will be bothered in whichever part of this country where they live or do business),” said President Kenyatta.
The President made it clear that he is not interested in leadership after his tenure ends in 2022 but he was categorical that he must leave behind a cohesive nation where people will not be worried of who they are or where they come from.
“Nie ndiri nabata na kindu kia mundu tondu uguo niguo nderetuo. Oharia hothe mundu ari, kana ni kurima naguku Lamu, kana ari Isiolo gwetha ng’ombe cia kwendia kana ena Namnaga kwendia irio ciake kana Githumo kugura thamaki, ndirenda mundu agacoko kuri ciana ciake na mutumia hatari na thina na kiria athukumite. Ucio noguo wendi wakwa. (I am not interested with someone’s possessions because that is how I have been brought up. Wherever one is or live, does farming in Lamu or go to seek cattle to sell in Isiolo or you go to Namanga to sell your produce or in Kisumu to buy fish I want to ensure that everyone will peacefully go to their children and wife without any problem with earnings of your hard work. Are we together my people that is my only wish),” Uhuru said.
Uhuru reiterated his commitment to fight graft and urged the church to proactively pay their role of being a key pillar to the harmony of this country.
Deputy President William Ruto on his part called on th Church to play its rightful role in the society and to pray for the unity of the country.
Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko claimed the president is young and can continue to serve pronouncements the Uhuru dismissed in a quick rejoinder saying he’s not interested to rule beyond his tenure.
Other leaders present were Starehe legislator Charles kanyi and Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris.
Uhuru’s move to face the protagonist Tangatanga and the Kieleweke movements with the latter opposed to early campaigns is comes in the wake of growing political realignments ahead of the 2022 succession politics.
Tangatanga team is opposed to the Building Bridges Initiative mooted after the famous last year’s handshake between President Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga.