Uhuru will not quit race, Ruto declares

United Republican Party leader William Ruto on Sunday dismissed claims that Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta was planning to step down in favour of URF’s Musalia Mudavadi.

Mr Ruto insisted that Mr Kenyatta was still in the presidential race and urged people to stop spreading such rumours.

He said the Jubilee coalition’s ambition to take over the country’s top leadership was unstoppable.

“Next year, we shall have a young dynamic and full-of-ideas Jubilee president,” he said at Kerugoya St Thomas Cathedral at the consecration and enthronement of the third Kirinyaga ACK Diocese bishop Joseph Kibuchwa.

“Whatever the case, we shall triumph because our coalition is solid and composed of the young generation,” he said.

He, however, said Mr Kenyatta and UDF leader Mudavadi would fight it out in the nominations and whoever won would be the Jubilee coalition torch bearer.

“We are democratic and the two gentlemen will be subjected to free and fair nominations,” he said.

The URP leader said he had ensured his colleagues were united to form a strong government which would serve all Kenyans without discrimination.

“Those prophets of doom never thought a leader from the Rift Valley can support a personality from central Kenya to be the president. What I believe is that a president can come from anywhere and lead well,” he said.

Mr Ruto said he, Mr Kenyatta and Mr Mudavadi were determined to win the presidential race and reconcile Kenyans. “There will be no retreat, no surrender. We will win the elections with majority votes,” he said.