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| Dr William Ruto during an empowerment drive for Boda boda riders in Busia County |
Deputy President William Ruto has said he is well placed to take over the leadership of the country when President Uhuru Kenyatta's term comes to an end in 2022.
He said his development track record was clear, saying he was optimistic that Kenyans would give him the opportunity to serve them come the next general election.
"Kenyans are interested in leaders who deliver because leadership is about service delivery," said Dr Ruto
At the same time,the Deputy President, urged Kenyans to say no to tribal groupings
He said Kenyans should be patriotic and reject divisions along tribal lines.
Speaking in Budalangi, Funyula and Matayos Constituencies during a one day tour of youth empowerment programmes in Busia County on Friday, Dr Ruto said leadership was about service delivery and had nothing to do with tribal affiliations.
He said when he supported Mr Odinga in 2007 and President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2002, 2013 and 2017, it had nothing to do with tribalism.
"When I supported Raila Odinga to become Prime minister and later my friend Uhuru Kenyatta to become President, I was a good man. But now that I want to help hustlers, I am now a bad man," said Dr Ruto.
He said the hustler movement that was now popular among Kenyans has created panic, forcing some leaders to form tribal groupings with the intention of fighting him ahead of 2022.
Dr Ruto said the hustler movement aims to change the country's economic model at grassroots as opposed to the top-bottom scenario which benefits a few.
"It's this move that we aim to transform the lives of majority of Kenyans that some leaders are not comfortable with because they just want few people to be economically empowered at the expense of millions of Kenyans," said Dr Ruto
"This is why they are regrouping and want to use their respective tribes to put roadblocks on the way but we want to tell them that we are also prepared to face them," added Dr Ruto.
"I know they are regrouping and have their tribal cards against me. I want to tell them that I am ready to face them because I am with the people and God," said Dr Ruto in Busia town.
He said days were long gone when some leaders banked on their tribes to get leadership positions.
"Kenyans are now more enlightened than before. Days are long gone when some leaders used politics of tribe to get some positions in this country. It's about development track record and not about our tribes," said Dr Ruto
He regretted that the Big Four agenda- manufacturing, housing, healthcare and food security have stalled because more focus has been diverted to change of constitution, which he added was not a priority for the country.
He, however,said he was optimistic that the Jubilee's agenda would be back on the track after issues pertaining to change of constitution are over.
MPs Mwambu Mabonga (Bumula) and Malulu Injendi (Malava) said the hustler movement was unstoppable.
They urged western Kenya residents to rally behind the leadership of Dr Ruto, saying he was well placed to take over the leadership of the country in 2022.
"We all know what the Deputy President has done for this country. He is the best candidate to succeed President Kenyatta in 2022," said Mr Mabonga.
