Ruto discloses why he appointed Uhuru as peace envoy despite disagreements
Ruto discloses why he appointed Uhuru as peace envoy after assuming the office of the president despite disagreements
President William Ruto has explained how he carefully considered his options before appointing his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta as peace envoy in Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Speaking to France 24, Ruto revealed that his decision to offer the position to Uhuru was based on how regional conflicts would have impacted his administration, notwithstanding their prior political disagreements.
Because Uhuru had developed a relationship with both Ethiopia and the DRC, it would have been bad for his government to exclude him.
Therefore, Uhuru’s principles and leadership abilities were critical for brokering peace agreements between warring factions in Ethiopia and the DRC, as well as for establishing Ruto’s legacy.
Ruto expressed concerns that developments in Ethiopia have an immense effect on Kenya and his agenda.
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“I appointed President Uhuru as an envoy because I’m different. I believe that President Kenyatta brings value to the processes in Ethiopia and DRC. What was there between him and me was a competition.
“It wasn’t a competition between me and the person he supported (Raila Odinga). Being a democracy, we are mature enough to understand that we can compete but we don’t have to be enemies but compatriots,” Ruto explained.
Ruto added that as the president, he would always be the first person to be blamed for the failure and thus required Uhuru’s leadership skills to shape his legacy.
“When things fall apart, it will stop at my desk. I can only be effective in doing what the people of Kenya want if the region is not a problem.
“If somebody else can help me with the regional issues so that I can concentrate my energy, efforts, and time in sorting out the issues Kenyans want me to do, I think that is the right decision,” Ruto added.
Uhuru was first appointed to lead peace talks in DRC by East African Heads of State on July 22 after he handed over the EAC Summit chairmanship role to Burundi president Evariste Ndayishimiye.
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