Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has advised his successor, William Ruto, to serve the country well because he will not be in the country’s top office forever.
Speaking during an interview with Media Editors on Monday, Kenyatta told Ruto that “power is temporary” and that he should serve the country with diligence during his time as president.
“My advice to President Ruto is that power is fleeting and temporary, do the best for the country. It is your work to run the country, not me even if I did not support you. I did my best and I handed over when my term ended,” said the former president.
According to Kenyatta, Ruto has not reached out to him since taking over the State House, stating that he would be willing to engage him only if the President did. He recalled reaching out to his predecessors, the late Mwai Kibaki and Daniel Moi, when he was in power.
“I can’t invite myself to talk with him but if he reaches out to me; he is my president and I will go. I went to Moi and Kibaki regularly to seek advice,” Kenyatta told the senior editors.
Kenyatta has however, distanced himself from claims he is funding the anti-government protests called by the opposition Azimio La Umoja coalition, saying, “I am puzzled by claims that I am funding Azimio protest, for what benefit?”
Ruto and leaders allied to his Kenya Kwanza coalition have repeatedly accused Kenyatta of sponsoring the Odinga-led demonstrations.
The retired Head of State reiterated that his mother should not be subjected to political victimization, adding that the benefits she receives are due to her status as former First Lady, not as the former president’s mother.
Kenyatta stated that he is not receiving all of his retirement benefits and that some of his employees do not have contracts.
“I am not receiving all retirement benefits, some of my staff do not have contracts, they don’t pay allowances to hire office and I fuel the cars,” the former president told media editors.
