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Home » 2012 Poll Watch, Kenya, Top stories » I will not step down, vows Deputy PM Uhuru

I will not step down, vows Deputy PM Uhuru

Posted by on January 28, 2012


Uhuru, Ruto in Ruiru rally/COURTESY

RUIRU, Kenya, Jan 28 – Embattled Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday said he had no plans to quit the government following indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Kenyatta who stepped aside as Finance Minister on Thursday told a major peace rally at Ruiru stadium in Kiambu County that he will retain the position of deputy prime minister in accordance with the constitution.

He said only Parliament can force him to relinquish the portfolio he has held since the inception of the Grand Coalition Government in 2008.

“I will not step down from the position of deputy prime minister unless a vote of no confidence is taken to Parliament and MPs approve it,’ he said.

The statement comes in the wake of a spirited campaign especially from the civil society asking him to step aside after the ICC Pre-Trial chamber confirmed charges of crimes against humanity leveled against him.

Kenyatta revealed that he had already appealed the ICC ruling issued on Monday.

“Kenya must be governed by the rule of law and not by the civil society who operate from hotels,” he said.

“I have already appealed against the ruling of the ICC Pre-Trial chamber and therefore I cannot discuss the case.”

Head of public service Francis Muthaura, one of the most influential men in President Mwai Kibaki’s circle, who also had the charges against him confirmed by The Hague-based court, resigned as well on Thursday.

He explained that he and Muthaura could have left office on Monday, but President Mwai Kibaki was away in Uganda.

Following the ICC charges, activist groups have gone to court to block Kenyatta, son of Kenya’s first president, from running for the presidency in elections due by March 2013.

“Those saying I and Ruto cannot vie for the presidency are day dreaming as the holder of the top job can only be determined by Kenyans in the ballot,” he said.

Kenyatta said: I am ready to work with Ruto, Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, Raphael Tuju and others.”

Also at the Ruiru peace rally, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka said that the Grand Coalition Government would collapse if Kenyatta was to bow to pressure and resign as Deputy Prime Minister.

“You should not listen to the voices of civil societies who are calling on you to resign as Deputy Prime Minister. We will use the law to deal with them,” he said.

A day after the ICC ruling was issued, Attorney General Githu Muigai insisted that the two officials would not be asked to quit their senior public positions until an appeal they plan to lodge in The Hague is determined.

However, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Mutula Kilonzo has been adamant that the Kenyatta needs to step aside from public office for the duration of his trial.






BERNARD MOMANYI Author: BERNARD MOMANYI
BERNARD MOMANYI has written 1081 posts
Bernard is a full time journalist and mainly writes crime-related stories at Capital FM. He has practiced journalism for 10 years both in print and electronic media. He holds a BSc degree in Information Sciences from Moi University where he specialised in Publishing and Media. He also holds a Diploma in Journalism and Public Relations.

  • Anonymous

    arrongance of the highest order,unafikiri hiyo ni kazi ya babako. To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and
    perverse speech.

  • UK_damu

    Whoever you are, you sound like you are in love with UK. Why do you follow his politics? If I were you I will not waste time with a candidate I don’t like. Pls use your energy elsewhere.

  • Mojofujo

    Just because some comments on UK’s well known arrogance and  sense of self entitlement doesn’t mean that they are in love with him

  • Anonymous

    u seems to be living in 19th century era mature up bwana

  • Anonymous

    how do kenyans vote for criminals. Vote for Peter kenneth – Peter Kenneth – A breath of Fresh air break from the past

  • Thenge

    You sound like your “thing” was not properly worked on. I think iko na turtle-head. Just saying coz your reasoning is below abysmal. 

  • Anonymous

    Thenge upende usipende Uhuru will not be on the ballot box, I wouild rather vote for Ruto instead of Uhuru. but fact I know peter kenneth will be the next president of kenya

  • Thenge

    That’s great! in actual fact I like Ruto and I support him. I will vote Ruto and not Peter Kenneth. Its a referendum anyway.

  • Mwenda pole Ufika

    Objectivity and  not emotions should guide our collective view of the presenting political dilemma. For Starters, in law there is presumption of innocence till one is found to be guilty of any charge.Uhuru and Ruto are suspects and have not been found to be guilty under law.
     Similarly there might be individuals currently in government or the private sector that may be responsible for what Uhuru and Ruto are being accussed yet we do not know about them.So before we confuse each other with our individual biases, let us give the court process time to find Uhuru and Ruto guilty or innocent of the charges laid against them .
    There are just too many unanswered questions in this case for any person to make political judgements one way or the other.Lest we have forgotten about Jomo Kenyatta, he served eight years in prison before he emerged to lead Kenya.
    One thing we know from the current dilemma is that the two biggest political blocks to have voted against and for Raila, that is Central and Rift, are now united as a block against his 2012 presidential run.

  • Jarso

    Nyeri_governer,
    I know you are from Seattle WA.

  • Sk

    Mwenda pole Ufika, don’t waste your vote for uhuru or ruto, vote for development – and that is Peter Kenneth

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Burning-Man-Bates/100000841535888 Burning Man Bates

    It is madness to argue the actions didn’t occur.  SANITY is to argue SELF-DEFENSE!

  • Anantpanchmatia

    Hon.Uhuru Kenyatta,believe me or not if I were in your shoes at presenet time,and thinking of the FUTURE
    The right course of action from your end is to resign from the post of DMP with imediate effect.That is to preserve
    you status of a national politician.

  • Johnkimenyi Kimenyi5

    how i wish ocampo, oooh..sorry! the lady prosecutor to speed up this trial so that we can atleast breath a fresh air free from Uhuru and Ruto. I am tired of hearing these two names daily.

  • Sk

    uhuru muigai kenyatta wacha ujinga na utoto,

  • tk

    lets meet on the ballot or on the referedum instead of showing how primitive we are

  • tame

    Take rat rat period your existence is repugnant! 

  • tame

    am sorry he is bound to make the same  mistakes that Kibaki has made this far he is a manager not  a leader you get it he is a muramati not a mutongoria ingithua ndongoria……….? Kenya needs strong passionate leadership not the sullen type that has been offered by this regime though on infrastructure even the blind can tell Kibaki has done excellent! I stand the correction of any sage but not the dimwitted!




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