Leaders in Western Kenya backing President William Ruto’s re-election bid have called for former President Uhuru Kenyatta to be stripped of his retirement benefits over alleged political interference.
The leaders accused Kenyatta of using political proxies to undermine the Ruto administration, arguing that such actions violate the dignity expected of a retired president.
Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula urged Members of Parliament to invoke Section 6 of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act against the former president.
“Uhuru is very insincere. We accuse him of using proxies to sabotage the leadership of President Ruto, yet he helped him to be elected twice,” Savula said.
The leaders spoke during a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) delegates meeting at Kiungani in Kiminini Constituency.
Sirisia MP John Waluke also urged Kenyatta to focus on his retirement and stay away from active politics.
“President Ruto helped you in your political journey. Keep off politics if this country is to retain its dignity. Retirement means you keep off,” Waluke said.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka dismissed suggestions that Ruto could serve only one term, insisting that efforts to block the President from securing a second term would fail.
“Uhuru should stop imagining that he can manage to make Ruto a one-term president,” Lusaka said.
Lusaka, who is the Western Kenya coordinator of Ruto’s re-election campaign, also defended the President’s record, saying his administration was being unfairly criticised despite what he described as significant development achievements.
Teso South MP Mary Emase said it was unrealistic to expect Ruto to lose his re-election bid, pointing to Kenya’s history of presidents serving two terms.
“It is imaginary to think that President Ruto would not win a second term in office like his predecessors. Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta all served two terms. Ruto will not be the first one to break that pattern,” Emase said.
Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau also endorsed Ruto’s re-election bid, saying the President had laid a foundation for development.
“We back the re-election of President William Ruto since he is development conscious,” Bisau said.
The leaders said the Ruto administration had initiated development projects across the country and urged voters in Western Kenya to support his bid for a second term.
They further called on Ruto’s supporters to remain focused on the government’s development agenda and resist what they described as political efforts to undermine the President.
