Ruto Comes To Sabina Chege's Rescue Amidst Threats From Kioni

President William Ruto fired back at Azimio la Umoja party leader, Raila Odinga for demanding leaders and members of the party to seek his blessings before meeting the President.

Speaking in Nakuru County on Monday, February 13, Ruto maintained that elected leaders do not need permission from anyone to meet him.

"We do not need permission from anybody to work together as leaders; if there is any permission, it is from the voters.

"Upon election, you have permission to work with other leaders so that we can change their lives and make a better nation," he said.

President William Ruto speaking at State House, Nakuru on February 13, 2023. /WILLIAM RUTO

He further warned the opposition leader against engaging in bad politics meant to divide Kenyans along political party lines.

"It is retrogressive, backward and has no place in Kenya. Those who were not elected should wait for 2027 and let us work with those in office," Ruto remarked.

"Those who didn't get the opportunity to be voted, wait for another time. Give us a chance to work with the elected leaders so that we plan on how to move the country forward."

He further claimed that he was forced to continue with the affordable housing project, which could have been completed during his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta's time, because of Raila disrupting affairs in that regard.

This comes amidst a boiling row between embattled Jubilee Party Secretary-General, Jeremiah Kioni and nominated MP, Sabina Chege after she was amongst the over 30 Jubilee MPs who met President Ruto at State House.

Kioni ordered Members of Parliament (MP) elected under the Azimio coalition to begin stripping her of her position as the Deputy Minority Whip of the National Assembly (NA) when the NA proceedings resume on Tuesday, February 14.

He further ordered nominated Senator Fatuma Dullo to resign from her seat on the basis of her newfound affiliations with the ruling Kenya Kwanza government, affirming that her seat belongs to the Azimio coalition, therefore she does not deserve it.

"We have got rid of the seat that we had given Sabina Chege of the Whip of the Minority and we are calling on Azimio MPs to ensure that she no longer holds the position from Tuesday because she has already joined Kenya Kwanza.

"Even her Senate counterpart Fatuma Dullo, who joined Kenya Kwanza should relinquish her seat because it belongs to Azimio," he declared.

However, his remarks were not taken lightly across the country, with Water Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alice Wahome coming to Chege's defence, accusing the Azimio coalition of singling out Chege on the basis of gender and demeaning women in power.

Sabina Chege was nominated to the National Assembly after shelving her gubernatorial ambitions before the 2022 General Election and was among the Jubilee leaders who had joined President William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza faction for a thanksgiving service in Nakuru County on Sunday.

During the meeting, the Leader of the Majority in the NA Kimani Ichung'wah assured her that she would not lose her seat for dumping Azimio, under party leader Raila Odinga, to work with the current government.

Chege had defended her move to join forces with President Ruto's Kenya Kwanza government in the company of other Jubilee Party members, giving an example of former President Uhuru who she said decided to partner with Azimio leader, Raila Odinga, for the tranquillity of the country. 

Other than the Jubilee MPs, nine Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders were blasted by Raila for their visit to State House to meet Ruto, terming them as traitors and asking them to quit the party.