Ruto allays fears he’ll be an authoritarian president
Ruto allays fears he’ll be an authoritarian president during an interview on Al Jazeera in New York.
President William Ruto has responded to the claim he could be Kenya’s authoritarian president/leader as he starts serving his term as Kenya’s fifth president.
Ruto was speaking during an interview on Al Jazeera in New York on Saturday, September 24.
While responding to Al-Jazeera’s James Bays, Ruto said he won’t, nonetheless, compromise on service delivery and integrity of those serving in his government.
In framing his question, Bays said: “I have been reading lots of profiles about you (Ruto). They all say you are very hardworking and determined, but also tough and sometimes uncompromising. Some people are speculating that you might have an authoritarian streak. So, are you the right man to build consensus?”
In response, President Ruto said: “I think I have a history of building consensus. A majority of the people who have worked with me have come to appreciate that yes, I’m firm, I’m determined, I’m focused, and that’s the only reason I have gotten myself here (presidency). Unless you are that firm, you can’t get anything done.
“However, the consensus I have built to win this election should confirm to you and all that I’m a consensus person. I wouldn’t have put together the team that gave me the opportunity to win this election.”
Ruto also touched on a wide range of issues affecting Kenya’s neighbours.
President Ruto however played safe on a number of global issues, especially those affecting East African countries.
He said the maritime border dispute with Somalia won’t be a priority – that making peace comes first.
The President also refused to ask Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to resign, he refused to associate Rwanda with the M23 rebels in DRC and he declined to condemn any of the parties in the Ukraine war.
On the other hand, Ruto underscored the need to immediately withdraw Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) soldiers from Somalia.
He, however, cautioned that KDF’s presence in Somalia was beneficial to Kenya rather than the neighbouring country.
The President established close diplomatic relations with newly elected Somalia President, Hassan Mohamud, and the two leaders agreed on fighting and defeating the Al Shabaab militants.
The exit process, nonetheless, would follow stipulated guidelines, and KDF set targets.
“Those troops will come back home as soon as we are done with the assignments that we have in Somalia. The new Somalia president has a much clearer view of where we need to go and is more committed to fighting Al Shabaab,” Ruto stated.
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