NASA MPs blast Ruto for opposing Prime Minister position

A section of opposition leaders have lashed out at Deputy President William Ruto’s pronouncements against a constitutional referendum to expand the executive.

Speaking in Moiben, Uasin Gishu County, during the homecoming ceremony of Trade Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo, Ruto said the Kenyatta-Odinga unity pact was not to be misconstrued to salvage a few political interests instead of uniting the country.

Ruto insisted that talk of an expanded executive structure had every inclination of political greed, adding that the sovereign power rests with the people.

“Kenyans have the capacity to elect their own leaders they do not need a few of us to sit in a corner over a cup of tea and decide who will be the Executive Prime Minister so that he or she can run the government,” said the deputy president.

However, the NASA allied legislators accused the deputy president of selfish political interests in the wake of the Uhuru-Raila handshake.

“Deputy President has been a very impatient man lately especially after the handshake between Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga. And this is because according to him, this handshake is supposed to undermine his political future,” said Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi.

The leaders, who joined faithful at the Mariakani Christian Centre in South B, lauded their NASA leader for putting the country’s healing first in building bridges with President Kenyatta, but accused the DP of attempting to scuttle the unity plans.

“We are telling Ruto whether you like it or not, the objectives of the handshake will be achieved and the country will move ahead,” said ANC Secretary General Godfrey Osotsi.

“Those who have already showed signs that they will block efforts to solve the problems facing Kenyans, we are telling them to give us a break,” said ODM’s Edwin Sifuna.

With the 2022 succession debate seemingly unable to fade away, the Kamket bill to create a powerful prime minister through a parliamentary system is now the subject of intense political debate.