Ruto sells his handshake with Raila in Rift Valley

President William Ruto has defended his handshake with his main challenger in the 2022 election, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying some of their parties’ interests are aligned.

Speaking Saturday at the burial of late Baringo Senator William Cheptumo, Ruto, Kenya Kwanza, and Azimio manifestos had common issues that brought them together.

The head of state sold the highly anticipated pact between him and Raila amid uncertainty on the position the former prime minister will take after losing the African Union Chair election.

Last week, Raila was at his political backyards of Nyanza and Western regions, where he held political rallies in what he has christened “listen to people’s views.”

In a meeting with President Ruto in Mombasa, Raila said he will declare his next political move after listening to the views of his supporters. He claims he will not betray the people of Kenya.

Ruto was also at his bastion to attend the burial of the Senate but also used the chance to market his bromance with Raila, an erstwhile nemesis and main challenger in 2022. 

“We may disagree on policies and issues, but we should never disagree about the destiny of our country, which is to succeed. We can find a common ground on important matters that are good for Kenya,” Ruto said.

He said there was a need to set aside the differences between the government and the opposition, because if Kenya fails because of bad politics, all leaders will also fail.

The president, noting that the health sector had been affected, said that it was time for Kenya to not only unite but also rethink our attitude.

“We share a country, a destiny, and if Kenya succeeds, we all succeed, and if we fail, we all fail. I am calling on leaders to find a common ground and work together to pursue common interests even if we have different views,” President Ruto said.

While mourning Cheptumo as a champion of peace and a peacemaker, Ruto condemned the chaos in burial ceremonies experienced in the past years.

“We have seen fights in burials where chairs, plates, and sufurias have been flying around. What a shame. Can’t leaders allow burials to be a solemn occasion?” he wondered.

He said there was a need to respect the departed, noting that in one burial ceremony, two other people died, “That was the lowest point of a country where in a burial we ended up with two more deaths.”

As usual, Ruto could not avoid his road politics and said roads are important in Kenya because they bring equity and ensure no Kenyan is left behind.

He made a promise to complete some of the roads in Baringo to fulfil a promise he made to the fallen senator.

The president said he was aware that he had been branded the road president, but he was alright with it as he aimed to bring equity in all the regions.

“Do not worry. People say I am a person of the road. It is okay, and others do not know where their roads are heading to,” he joked.

“I have instructed CS Davis Chirchir. We have a new contractor, and we will push those working on the road to ensure they open up the road networks to other counties,” he said.

He made a directive to Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen to ensure the cases of insecurity in Baringo and other regions are tackled.

“I have instructed Murkomen to deploy whatever resources and do whatever it takes to have peace in all regions,” he said.

A section of leaders who attended the service, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, and National Speaker Moses Wetangula, said the growing ties fostered political tolerance.

Moses Wetang’ula supported Ruto’s handshake with Raila, insisting that Kenya does not need leaders from outside and blame games should stop.

He criticised the newly formed opposition, saying it was dividing Kenyans on regions, tribes, and interests.

“We have to put our heads together. Ruto and Raila have decided to work together, but you as followers are still angry and abusive. Learn from history. When elephants fight, the grass suffers,” said Wetang’ula.

“You (Ruto) carry our dreams and let the leaders support you to ensure we make Kenya great again as America is trying to do to its people,” said Wetang’ula.

Wetang’ula urged the clergy to stop politicking and pray for the country.

Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi praised the handshake, saying it was the biggest move for Ruto to unite with his fiercest competitor.

“When leaders are together, they are talking about their country. Kenya needs political tolerance. Our leaders should not be peddling rumours that create rifts among tribes. If we want peace to prevail in the country, we should be ambassadors of peace as leaders,” Kingi said.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi praised Ruto for the Universal Health Care program, saying the same had helped mitigate the withdrawal of the USAID program.

“We have to take care of ourselves and our health and stop waiting for donations. We can do politics with other things but not the lives of Kenyans,” he said.

During the event, leaders eulogised the late senator as a leader who was focused on fostering security in the bandit-prone areas of Baringo and other volatile areas across the country. President Ruto hailed Cheptumo as a passionate leader who knew what he wanted.

“When national duty called, he stood up for any assignments, and he was available. We have lost a great leader who was a great resource in negotiations that brought about peace. He always sought solutions to insecurity issues in Baringo,” he said.

Cheptumo was also remembered for his contributions to education and the economy by coming up with legislation targeted at ending cattle rustling, especially in the Kerio Valley.

He was eulogised as a gentle but silent icon of justice who, besides investing heavily in education and ending insecurities, also invested in religious activities.

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot eulogised Cheptumo as a committed leader who came up with policies aimed at taming insecurity incidents.

Murkomen joined the leaders in acknowledging Cheptumo’s contributions to interior security, noting that his efforts have drastically reduced cases in banditry-prone areas.

“He left a legacy as a leader who worked immensely to reduce cattle rustling and banditry in Kerio Valley,” Murkomen said.

During his tenure in politics, Cheptumo served as an MP, a senator, and an assistant minister and chaired several committees in both houses.

Cheptumo was first elected to parliament in 2007. He held the seat for three consecutive terms until 2022, when he was elected to the Senate.