It Feels Like I Am Running Against Uhuru In The Coming Elections And Not Raila; William Ruto Claims

Deputy President William Ruto’s animosity toward President Uhuru Kenyatta and Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai has been described by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i. Deputy President William Ruto and his associates allegedly did not receive police service tenders, according to Interior CS Fred Matiang’i.

Recent accusations of state takeover of independent institutions and agencies were denounced by the vice president. He used the National Police Service as an example, which he claimed the president had surreptitiously taken over.

He made the implication that the police inspector general had lost his authority and was now only serving in a ceremonial capacity.

“The current command of the police is done by others. The IG is supposed to be an independent office. But if he cannot discharge that responsibility it means it is being discharged by people who don’t run independent offices. To be honest, the current IG is the president of Kenya who is the leader of Azimio,” said Ruto.

Ruto claims that the IG’s office is a wreck and that the incumbent is “the most incompetent in the entire world.” He claimed that Mutyambai is currently unable to act in his capacity as the head of the entire police force.

During a meeting with pre-election assessors from the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), both of which are led by former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, the deputy president made this statement at his Karen residence on Friday, July 1.

“We have seen Mutyambai being disregarded as the most incompetent IG in the world. He happens to have refused to procure police boots at KSh 13,000 that were being sold by his (Ruto’s) allies. He instead went where he could procure the same items at KSh 2,900,” he said. “He also turned down their bulletproof vests being sold at KSh 100,000. The police bought them directly from manufacturers. That is where their frustrations are coming from,” added Matiang’i.

Additionally, at the meeting with the NDI and IRI representatives, Ruto made the implication that his main opponent in the general election on August 9 is a “project” of the government.

The leader of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party, Raila Odinga, is set to engage the vice president in a contentious political contest as he makes his first run for the presidency. This is Odinga’s sixth attempt to win the presidency after losing previous elections. Raila is competing for the seat with a ticket that has Uhuru’s support.

Ruto acknowledged that he is in a rivalry with his superior Uhuru. “In the last election, I and my boss the president were on the same side. In this election, we are on different sides. From where I seat, I’m running more against my boss than his candidate and that is the real complication,” Ruto said.