Ruto Reveals Offer He Made To Kalonzo After Winning August 9 Elections
However, Ruto revealed that Kalonzo turned down his offer...
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President William Ruto revealed on Sunday, April 16 that he considered incorporating Wiper Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka into his administration after winning the August 9, 2022, general elections.
Speaking during an interdenominational prayer service at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, Ruto revealed that he had a sit-down with Kalonzo as part of a promise he made to the people of Machakos prior to the polls.
He indicated that he informed Kalonzo of an offer by the Kenya Kwanza regime for the position of the Speaker of the National Assembly, which is now being held by Moses Wetangula.
President William Ruto (left) shares a light moment with Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti during a thanksgiving ceremony in Machakos County on Sunday, April 16, 2023. /WILLIAM RUTO
“I promised that if I won, I would look for Kalonzo because he had been troubled by the others. I don't want to be a liar, I want to say the truth, when I won the elections, I looked for Kalonzo and sat down with him.
“I told him to come and join my administration. There was a vacancy in the Speaker’s position and others because I did not want you to blame me later,” he stated.
However, Ruto revealed that Kalonzo turned down his offer, informing the Head of State that he wanted to continue supporting the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
In respect of the decision of the former Vice President, Ruto gave his positions to other individuals after seeking help from leaders in the Akamba community to work with him.
“I have discharged my responsibility because I spoke to him and he told me that he wanted to continue with the other team, what was I supposed to do?” he added.
Ruto noted that he was unshaken by Kalonzo's rejection as he vowed to include members of the Akamba community in his government so that every community would be represented.
He added that the recruitment of the members into his government would continue while asking the Akamba community to keep off the Azimio demonstrations.
“Even if he refused to work with me, I vowed to look for other leaders from ‘Ukambani’ to work with me to ensure that the people here were included in my government,” Ruto stated.
“I will even include more members from ‘Ukambani’ to my government because I cannot allow others to destroy this community with demonstrations that will not be of help to anyone."
Ruto appointed Dr Alfred Mutua, the former Machakos Governor as Kenya's Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary as well as Peninah Malonza to head the Tourism Ministry. The region also has a number of government appointees, including Jonathan Mueke, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports and Monica Juma, an Advisor to the President.
Kalonzo on September 9, 2022, withdrew from the National Assembly Speaker's race at the last minute, citing a late-night meeting with Senators allied to the Azimio La Umoja coalition, which was later confirmed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila on September 7, 2022, a day before the elections of the seat.
The meeting with Senators was held at his Karen Command Centre and Kalonzo explained that Uhuru and Raila supported his withdrawal after Azimio discovered that the race would be interfered with through malpractices.
