Deputy President William Ruto on Sunday took another jab at Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga over calls for a referendum and persistent criticism of his church donations.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Kirinyaga County, DP Ruto said that Jubilee Party will not be dissuaded to ditch its agenda for political heckling.
"Those beating drums on referendum, we want to tell them that we are focused and we know where we are going. No amount of intimidation and blackmail will stop us from fulfilling the agenda we promised Kenyans,’’ Dr Ruto said.
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Accompanied by over 20 members of Parliament allied to Jubilee Party, Ruto said that there is no room for politics in the ruling party and dismissed those campaigning for constitutional change as people with nothing to offer Kenyans.
"Some people are called his excellency, his worship., right-honorable, Baba (father) and mama (mother) and he forgot that there is a living God in heaven and no one is powerful than him,” quipped Ruto.
The DP said that Jubilee Party will not disintegrate and is still united despite reports of a split into factions dubbed Team Kieleweke and Tanga Tanga.
"We hear the opposition leader wants to amend the Holy Bible and ban any contribution in the church. We want to tell him that we know our God and we have no apology to make,” a defiant Ruto said.
The Deputy President said that projects launched by the Jubilee government will be completed and cited Thiba Dam, which he said is 50 percent complete.
He said that the government has released Sh15 billion for the construction of the dam.
Waiguru snub
Ruto’s Kirinyaga tour was given a wide berth by the county governor, Anne Waiguru Kamotho and her deputy Peter Ndambiri.
Ms Waiguru recently caused a storm after saying that Mt Kenya is ready for a Raila presidency, comments that stirred controversy given that she is a member of Ruto’s Jubilee Party.
Kirinyaga Central MP John Wambugu said they were not aware of Waiguru’s whereabouts, adding that she did not send an apology for skipping an event attended by her party's deputy leader.
However, all four members of Parliament from Kirinyaga County — Gichugu’s Gichimu Githinji, Mwea’s Wachira Kabinga, Ndia’s Gorge Kariuki and Woman Represenative Wangui Ngirichi — attended the fundraiser.
Kirinyaga senator Charles Kibiru sent an apology, saying he is out of the country.
MCAs 'defy' Waiguru
About 20 members of Kirinyaga County Assembly attended Ruto’s function but said that they had to defy an order by the governor not to attend the fundraiser.
Speaking during the fundraiser, the MCAs led by nominated ward rep Lucy Njeri said that they defied an order issued by the governor to snub the Sacred Heart Kangaita Catholic Church fundraiser.
The MCAs and local MPs said that they are fully behind the Deputy President, saying that sentiments by the governor on opposition leader’s presidential candidature were personal and don’t represent their views.
Kirinyaga Central MP Wambugu said that he was not asked his opinion by the governor before she announced that central Kenya is ready for Riala presidency.
