President Uhuru Kenyatta has hinted that his critics within the Jubilee Party are mistaken to think that he would order a clampdown from provocations and insults.
Speaking to his Kikuyu backyard via four vernacular FM radio stations, Uhuru said he had chosen to keep quiet with his eye on delivering development.
“We will not go where they think they can drive us. But as I said in Mama Hannah’s funeral in Vihiga, don’t mistake keeping quiet for cowardice. If they dare try provoking national strife, they will see us in our true colours,” Uhuru said in an interview.
Uhuru also said that anti-Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) brigade had sought to bring down the constitutional reform moment by linking it to 2022 and branding it a route to help opposition leader Raila Odinga.
“The truth of the matter is that I do not remember telling you to vote for any particular persons and giving any promises to anyone. When the elections come, we shall look exercise our democratic right and we shall surely be evaluating each every candidate on the ballot,” he added.
The president urged his Mt Kenya backyard to move in unity towards the next political dispensation saying that some political players from the region are guilty of accepting payments to bring down rivals.
“There is a clique seeking to divide our people for their own selfish interest and I want to tell you that divided you will fall and my plea to you is that we move together and we also move together with the rest of Kenya,” he said.
He accused the Jubilee faction led by his Deputy William Ruto of refusing to head to his plea that they stop politicking and concentrate on development.
“The truth of the matter is that when they go out there and politics they are boasting using the projects in roads, water and last-mile connectivity projects that we have undertaken,” he added.
He also said he was looking forward to a stress-free retirement in which he will be able to watch from the sidelines and engage in “other national development engagement even if it is just farming.”
On the provocations, the president said; “They will stone this tree but the fruit they want from it will not fall…and if it does, it will land in the hands of a person who stands for truth and justice. It is not me who shall hand over that fruit but God.”
The angered President said that he was fully aware of the faction which, according to him, has been rattling him in an attempt to make him use extra force on them to garner sympathy from Kenyans in return.
“They think that if they continue insulting me I will send officers to arrest them. Let them continue with that route. Insult me…insult me. I am where I am until when my term is over. I won’t overreact or lie low consoling myself over the insults. I am busy working for the nation,” said Uhuru.
“Insults are like mud. At the point I will get into a river I will have them washed off. They won’t stick. If insulting me is what makes you happy, makes your heart feel contented continue,” he added.
He, however, issued a stern warning stating that he will not hesitate to take punitive action against anyone whose politicking will be a threat to the country’s peace and progression.
“Let it be a warning to them. I dare them to stop progress in the government’s work or cause violence and war, just as I told them the other day, don’t mistake a rained-on lion for a cat. My focus is uniting Kenyans and having peace beyond the next elections,” he said.
He took a swipe at his critics saying that he was aware that they were being funded to cause mayhem during his administration.
“I’m a good student of history and I know what is going on. There is a place they are given Sh20 to insult this person today and Sh100 tomorrow. It won’t be of any help. We have seen such people who sold out their kinsmen for personal gain,” said Uhuru.
Uhuru dismissed claims that he had lost contact with the electorate saying that Kenyans shall understand his decision to keep off early politics when the time to transit to another administration comes.
“I love is mingling with the people. However, we cannot all leave doing what needs to be done to get on the streets shouting. I have a lot to do for tea and coffee farmers and roads among other projects. I will not deliver such promises while on those streets,” said Uhuru.
“I will only achieve that while in the office strategizing and sourcing for funds and channel them to the right places. Once am done with that I will come out to the public and tell our people this is the much I have done on the promises I made to them,” he added.
The President has been fighting the notion that his backyard-Mt Kenya region, had been raided and turned against him making him afraid of making forays as he does in other regions.
“I’m not afraid to come out in the public. It is about fulfilling my promises so that when I will get back to the people and it won’t be a question of why I didn’t deliver. That is the point where we shall consult with the people on how we can push forward this agenda,” he said.
On rotational presidency, Uhuru reiterated his sentiments saying that the hustler versus dynasty narrative does not hold water, is unrealistic and dangerous for the country.
“The topic out of nowhere came up and dominated the Vihiga event. I had to respond. The dynasty narrative is like telling you not to become a doctor because your father was one. They (Tangatanga) will not tell you this but it is simply what they mean. It does not make sense,” Uhuru said.
He said that he was for equal opportunity for all communities to ascend to power regardless of their history, gender or age provided Kenyans approve it through the ballot.
“You don’t go out causing friction between people to get power. Wisdom on what you say is greatly needed. There is no single person who cannot lead this country whether young or old, man or woman. If you want that seat, market your ideas which will help the electorates,” he said.
The President pointed out that unity and the creation of a conducive environment for local and foreign investors to create jobs for the local population should be the priority for every national leader.
“There is no country without rich and poor people. What we can do for the poor is to help them get out of poverty but not by inciting them. It is by uniting them and creating an enabling environment for them to have their small businesses thrive,” he said.
Asked about his plans after 2022, the President was discreet in his response saying that he was not hungry for power but will continue to serve the country in a different capacity and as a private citizen.
“I shall be where God will give me a chance to work for this country. I won’t go sleep because am out of government. I will find something useful to do. However, it should be noted am not a power-hungry man,” he said.
While calling on Kenyans to support the government in efforts of arresting spiralling moral decadence among the youth, the President urged the local media and parents to keep track of what information their children consume.
“We all have a responsibility to know how our children wake up, where they spend the day and with who. The government has no capacity to get into every home. To get our children back on track we need to work together. Our media programming should be streamlined towards morality,” he said.
Uhuru was particular on the resumption of schools saying that no child in public day schools should be sent home for fees as seen in some schools.
“From Grade One to Form Four, no child in public day school should be denied a chance to sit in class because they have a fee balance. Any such incidents should be reported. I wish the candidates who have been affected success in their assessment,” said Uhuru
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