Former Kitutu Masaba MP Mwancha Okioma reckons that President Uhuru Kenyatta’s chances of getting re-elected in 2017 will get a boost if he drops his current deputy William Ruto.
The Ford People chairman told Gesima residents on Monday that the DP’s reputation has substantially diminished due to persistent corruption allegations linking him and his close allies.
Mr Okioma said Kenyans were losing hope in the Jubilee government following increased corruption scandals and land grabbing which he said will dent the President’s re-election.
“There is no doubt that this is the most corrupt regime ever to lead this nation and Kenyans are getting tired of it. Sadly, the DP is always mentioned in a number of these scandals like land grabbing among others, tainting the president’s legacy. Time has come for him to take courage and drop Ruto to save his likely one term presidency,” he said.
He cited the ongoing National Youth Service scam in which the DP’s allies have adversely been mentioned in an affidavit by former Devolution CS Anne Waiguru, and urged that Ruto should take responsibility and ask them to resign from their elective seats.
“You recently heard of NYS scam. Duale (Aden), Murkomen (Kipchumba) and Farouk Kibet are close allies of our DP and that even validates my call to have Kenyatta dump Ruto for someone who is clean. The three are close friends of the DP and this makes me suspicious because he has not spoken about the scandal. He should tell them to resign to show that he too is committed to fighting corruption,” he added.
He also questioned the DP’s grip in Rift Valley citing the ongoing rebellion as a validation that the country’s second in command was becoming weaker in his backyard.
“He is even unable to assert his authority as Rift Valley kingpin because of his dictatorial approach on other leaders. I am telling the President for free that time has come to part ways with his Deputy because he is a liability.
He should work with someone who hits positive headlines and not negative in national dailies.