The Kenya Kwanza Coalition leaders have been asked to desist from attacking and insulting President Uhuru Kenyatta in their campaigns.
Kenya Union Party leader John Lonyangapuo called on Deputy President Dr.William Ruto and his team to respect the President saying he is a leader elected by Kenyans and their votes should be respected.
This comes after Lonyangapuo; the West Pokot Governor became the first proposer for Raila Odinga Presidency at the Azimio la Umoja Movement National Delegates Convention at the KICC, Nairobi.
Speaking during the swearing in ceremony of three new County Executive Members who replaced those who resigned to go and vie for political seats, Prof Lonyangapuo asked Deputy President William Ruto to respect President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“They must have respect, they should not abuse and underrate other parties despite them being in different political affiliate parties,” said Prof Lonyangapuo.
Uhuru and Ruto fell out, with the President backing Raila’s State House bid.
But in 2018, Kenyatta and Odinga stunned the country when they shook hands and declared a truce after post-election violence in 2017 that left dozens of people dead.
Last month, Kenyatta’s Jubilee party announced that it would join the Azimio la Umoja (Quest for Unity) coalition headed by Odinga.
On Saturday, Kenyatta declared his backing for the veteran opposition leader.
Deputy President William Ruto, 54, was initially annointed by Kenyatta as his successor but found him marginalized after the 2018 pact between the President and his former foe.
Prof Lonyangapuo said it was wrong for Ruto to disobey Uhuru despite the President having given him an opportunity to be his deputy for two terms.
The KUP leader who drummed up support for the Azimio la Umoja coalition noted that the vote-rich North Rift region will overwhelmingly vote for ODM leader in the coming polls.
“Our team calls for unity, it is about Kenya to respect itself, stand on its own and stay in peace with our neighbors,” he said.
He called on politicians to put Kenya first before their interests.
“Don’t insult other people just because they have not joined your coalition. If you have differed with someone just go your way. There is even divorce in marriage .You may meet one day. Talking against the head of state like a small person is wrong,” noted Governor Lonyangapuo.
The Governor who also received more than twenty aspirants in the Kenya Union Party faulted DP Ruto allies for referring to his new political outfit as a village party.
‘You do not need everything on the earth’s surface to be yours. Our party stands for unity and it has the same ideology as Azimio,” he said.
The County boss added his government will continue because his leadership will not end soon.
“We don’t want services to be disrupted. We are telling other counties not to put officers in acting capacity,” he said.
He insisted that the North Rift region is not under Deputy President William Ruto or KANU as it used to be perceived. “KANU was me, Poghisio was in URP, Atudonyang was in America and Kamket in the bush but I brought them in KANU. I later formed KUP which is thriving ,” he said.
He noted that Kenyans need a visionary leader.
“We are happy that Odinga’s key manifesto is about Industrialization, Value addition, Health and Education. The UDA party should also taste the opposition,” he said.
