Ruto: I don’t mind working with Raila, 2022 is a possibility

Deputy President William Ruto has said that he is willing to work with everyone, including his archrival, Raila Odinga, as long as they share a similar ideology and goal of stabilizing the Kenyan economy.

During a morning interview on Radio Citizen on Thursday morning, March 25, DP Ruto said that his vision for the country to a large extent coincides with that of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader, Raila.

The Jubilee second-in-command who faces being stripped of his party position accused many national leaders of retreating to their tribal cacoons.

“The former Prime Minister and I read from the same script on the need to have political parties that have a national outlook. Unlike other leaders, who believe in ethnic-based political parties, Raila and I are pushing for a few political outfits which can be embraced nationally. We have seen many leaders go back to their tribesmen, from political parties to bargain a pre- or post-election alliance. We need political parties that transcend the borders of ethnicity,” said Ruto.

Referring to the “Sacred Alliance” that brings together Kanu’s Gideon Moi, Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, Amani National Congress’s Musalia Mudavadi and Ford-Kenya’s Moses Wetangula, Ruto wrote them off as tribal outfits that lack any philosophical, ideological, and policy underpinnings.

“If you go to Wiper, it belongs to Ukambani people. ANC is a Western party just like Ford-Kenya. Kanu, which was formerly a national party, is now confined in Baringo. And now the Coast leaders are pushing for their own party,” said the Jubilee man.

The DP revealed that he would not hesitate to work with Raila as long as their visions for the country align, suggesting that they may ‘team up for the sake of Kenyans in 2022.’

“I will work with everyone who shares an ideology with us. I will work with everyone who shares an approach to stabilizing the economy through the bottom-up model. If Raila is that person, what stops me from working with him?” said Ruto.