“I want to make it clear that my partnership with President Kenyatta is to unite Kenyans and end tribalism in this country,”/FILE
While welcoming the decision by the ICC to drop charges against President Kenyatta, Ruto said the move will enable them focus on service delivery to the people of Kenya.
“I want to make it clear that my partnership with President Kenyatta is to unite Kenyans and end tribalism in this country. We are determined to unite Kenya and make sure that the chapter when Kenyans fought and killed each other, destroying property is closed for good,” said Ruto.
He went on to thank Kenyans for praying for them saying the prayers are being answered as President Kenyatta’s case has been dropped.
“We want a united country that each one of us will be proud of. We are committed to uniting this country beyond community, tribe or region. We will accomplish this,” added the Deputy President.
Critics had cast doubt on the Jubilee Coalition’s ability to hold following the dismissal of Kenyatta’s case since the ICC aspect was a major uniting factor for the two, a notion dismissed by many Central Kenya MPs among them Kiharu MP Irungu Kang’ata who said the court’s ruling would strengthen the coalition’s resolve to prove opponents wrong.
“The Jubilee Coalition is very strong and we cannot be split. In any event, we are going to be even more strengthened,” said Kang’ata.
The Deputy President also urged leaders to put aside their political differences and take a common stand on issues of development.
“Kenya needs development and the government is ready to work with all leaders irrespective of their political affiliation,” said Ruto.
Earlier in the day, while overseeing the official opening of Ngerenya Administration Police post in Kilifi, the Deputy President said the government had declared war on insecurity, saying Parliament will soon come up with tough anti-terrorism laws to help in the war against the vice.
Ruto said legislators should urgently come up with laws aimed at containing terrorism among other criminal activities, saying security challenges facing the county should be confronted collectively.
‘Parliament has this week been asked to change issues pertaining to terrorism laws to ensure terrorists have no place in this country,”
“ I am optimistic that our MPs will work together and speak with one voice in providing a legal framework to eliminate and manage issues of security and deny criminals any chance of terrorize our people in any part of our country,” said Ruto.
He also urged Kenyans to be vigilant and report any suspicious persons to the police.
The Deputy President was accompanied by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale and his Senate Counterpart Kithure Kindiki.
The leaders seized the opportunity to celebrate the withdrawal of the ICC case against President Kenyatta while demanding that the one against Ruto and former broadcaster Joshua Sang be also dropped.
“What the ICC Prosecutor did yesterday to drop President Kenyatta’s case should have been done five years ago. Our stand as Kenyans is still the same. We will not rest until all the cases facing our leaders are dropped because they are innocent,” said Kindiki.
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