Deputy president William Ruto has defended remarks he allegedly made in an audio clip when he allegedly pressured President Uhuru Kenyatta into participating in a second round of the 2017 General Election.
In an audio clip played at an Azimio La Umoja rally on Sunday by Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, the DP could be heard saying that President Kenyatta nearly dropped out of the repeat election after his win was nullified by the Supreme Court.
In the clip, the DP claimed that Uhuru even told him that he was leaving for his rural home in Ichaweri, Kiambu County.
It is then that the UDA presidential candidate almost slapped the head of state “had it not been for respect.”
Read: DP Ruto Dismisses Reports on Smacking President Uhuru as “False, Divisive”
Politicians that support Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance leader Raila Odinga turned against DP Ruto as a result of the audio, blaming him for their fallout.
But in a swift retort, DP Ruto told his rivals that he could not have let President Kenyatta to withdraw from the election, favoring their then archrival, Raila.
In the midst of the contentious discussion, Dr Ruto has accused his opponents of hypocrisy, claiming that, if anything, their friendship and commitment to the Head of State dates back to their respective campaign runs.
“Forget about the hypocrisy. Sahii wanajifanya wanamtetea Uhuru, hamjawahi kumpigia kura , hamjui tulifanya vipi ndio Uhuru awe Rais. You have no business giving us lectures on our relationship with Uhuru Kenyatta. We made him president through campaigns and our votes,” said Dr Ruto in Meru.
Read Also: DP Ruto Under Attack For Claiming He Almost Slapped President Uhuru in 2017
“Kwani mlitaka tucheze na kiti alichokuwa amepata na tumeamka saa kumi asubuhi kutafuta kura? Hata kama nilimlazimisha awe rais, iko makosa?”
Ruto noted that he and Mr Kenyatta put a lot of effort into gaining support for his presidential campaign hence the reason why he could not let it go down the drain.
“Wamerecord ati oh, William Ruto amelazimisha Rais, vile [Former Chief Justice David] Maraga amebatilisha uchaguzi ukitaka tucheze, hata mngekuwa mimi, mngekubali awache na tumemtafutia?”
“Mimi ndiye nilifanya campaign kubwa, nilikuwa naamka asubuhi nikafanya mikutano tatu kabla ya rais kuamka, na sababu mimi niafiki yake,” added Ruto.
Read Also: DP Ruto Almost Slapped President Uhuru After Nullification of 2017 Presidential Election
On Sunday, however, the DP dismissed as false and deceptive the reports.
Through his director of communication, Hussein Mohamed, the DP bemoaned what he called “unprofessional, prejudiced, divisive and unfair coverage” in a letter regarding two media accounts, including one in which he was almost seen slapping Uhuru.
“The headlines titled ‘Day I almost slapped Uhuru’, is not only erroneous but deliberately misleading,” read the letter in part.
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