Ruto: I have no Regrets Forcing Uhuru Run in 2017’s Repeat Elections.

William Ruto, the deputy president, has defended remarks he allegedly made in an audio clip when he allegedly pressured President Uhuru Kenyatta into running again in the 2017 elections.

In a video clip shown at an Azimio La Umoja rally on Sunday, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed quoted DP Ruto as saying that President Kenyatta, his running mate, nearly dropped out of the campaign after the 2017 elections were declared invalid.

In the video, the DP claimed that Uhuru even told him that he was leaving for his rural home in Ichaweri, Kiambu County, and that he almost smacked Mr. Kenyatta “had it not been for respect.”

Politicians that supported Azimio leader Raila Odinga turned against DP Ruto as a result of the video, blaming him for the president’s eventual fallout.

But in a swift retort, DP Ruto told his rivals that he was powerless to let President Kenyatta to withdraw from the election, favoring their then archrival, Raila Odinga.

In the midst of the contentious discussion, Dr. Ruto accused them of hypocrisy, claiming that, if anything, their friendship and commitment to the Head of State date back to their respective campaign runs.

“Forget about the hypocrisy. Sahii wanajifanya wanamtetea Uhuru, hamjawahi kumpigia kura , hamjui tulifanya vipi ndio Uhuru awe Rais. You have no business giving us lectures on our relationship with Uhuru Kenyatta. We made him president through campaigns and our votes,” the DP told supporters.

“Kwani mlitaka tucheze na kiti alichokuwa amepata na tumeamka saa kumi asubuhi kutafuta kura? Hata kama nilimlazimisha awe rais, iko makosa?” he posed.

Ruto added that he worked very hard to drum up support for his presidential bid with Mr. Kenyatta to see it drown.

Wamerecord ati oh, William Ruto amelazimisha Rais, vile [Former Chief Justice David] Maraga amebatilisha uchaguzi ukitaka tucheze, hata mngekuwa mimi, mngekubali awache na tumemtafutia?”

“Mimi ndiye nilifanya campaign kubwa, nilikuwa naamka asubuhi nikafanya mikutano tatu kabla ya rais kuamka, na sababu mimi niafiki yake,” added Ruto.