Uhuru-Ruto fallout deepens as 2022 race gathers steam

The Ukambani tour of President Uhuru Kenyatta was loaded with heavy political messages as he inspected Konza and Thwake projects as well as a road project connecting Kitui and Makueni counties.

Without naming names, Uhuru tore into his deputy by saying that he was misleading the youth by dishing out handouts instead of empowering them.

Speaking at Thwake Dam in Makueni County, the second-term president with just a year remaining in office said this about Ruto’s hustler rhetoric:  Sio tu kuongea kwa sababu unataka kuchafua fikira za vijana. Lazima uwe na mpango. Fikiria mahitaji yale yatafanya wananchi kujisimamia. Mwananchi hataki kupewa. Anataka apatiwe uwezo wa kujitafutia na kujisimamia.

(Do not talk with an aim of spoiling the minds of the youth. You must have a plan. Think about the needs of Kenyans. The ordinary citizen does not want to be given handouts. She wants to be empowered to stand on her own and work for her needs.)

While denying the media reports that he met with President Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to discuss how to block Deputy President William Ruto from ascending to the State House next year, Kalonzo sought to assure Kamba residents that they have a unity of purpose and are addressing the wananchi welfare.

Double cancellation

Political differences between Kalonzo and Ukambani governors led to double cancellation of Uhuru’s tour to Ukambani.

“Now I will welcome my brother governor Kibwana. But when you read the newspapers, there are very shocking details. That we met at State House. I don’t know where they (Media) get this news. There was nothing like that”, said Kalonzo.

In reaction to Kalonzo’s statements, the Makueni governor said that politics have stopped but he will not be taken to the Wiper disciplinary committee.

President Kenyatta has ordered National Environment Management Authority (Nema) to investigate the water pollution that feeds into Thwake dam.

Currently, the water is contaminated by factories located upstream making it unsafe for use. It cannot be used for human consumption or for irrigation. This is according to a report from the Auditor General Ms Nancy Gathungu in the last financial year. The region is drought prone and the construction of Thwake dam is expected to solve that problem. It will benefit more than 1.3Million residents of the two counties.

Story by MUSYOKA NGUI