Garissa Township Member of Parliament Aden Duale has said that President Uhuru Kenyatta is tactically pleading with Deputy President William Ruto to slow down his presidential campaigns so ‘old’ Raila Odinga can catch up.
Speaking on Tuesday during his address in Nakuru County, President Uhuru indirectly attacked William Ruto’s perceived early campaigns for the 2022 presidential race saying he would be tire and be overtaken by Raila.
“Leadership is not a sprint, it is a marathon… You (William Ruto) will flee by the time you have reached the point where the breath is gone, but the old man (Raila Odinga) who has trodden you slowly will come and pass you by,” President Uhuru said.
But speaking during KTN’s News Hour interview on Wednesday, December 1, the former majority leader in the National Assembly said President Uhuru was worried by William Ruto’s supersonic speed, a move he said is disadvantaging Raila Odinga.
“He is trying to tell us, you guys are too fast, you guys will kill this mzee (Raila Odinga). This Mzee cannot run at your pace,
“The President is pleading; if Baba (Raila Odinga) is trying to run at the pace you are running, he is the one who will lose pumzi(breath),” Duale went on.
While exuding confidence that Ruto will beat Raila, Duale said the deputy president comes from a region that knows how best to win a marathon, unlike Raila Odinga’s turf.
“I want to assure the president that with the energy we have and the capacity we have, we will finish this race sprinting.,
“We are not ready for the marathon. He’d better tell the Prime Minister that these guys will sprint until August 8th, 2022 (the date of the General Election),” he said.
Duale further poked holes at President’s speech -during the granting of City status to Nakuru- saying that it clearly showed that Ruto is not President Uhuru’s choice for the top seat in the 2022 race for State House.
“It is clear that President Uhuru’s choice is not DP William Ruto and we respect it,” Duale said.