Former President and Jubilee Party leader Uhuru Kenyatta said on Monday that he will not be intimidated by leaders he accuses of disrespecting him.
Speaking during the Jubilee Party National Delegates committee meeting at Ngong Racecourse, Kenyatta said that he was ready to step down from active politics after handing over the presidency to President William Ruto last year, until some unnamed people began intimidating him.
“I wanted to shelve politics, but there are others who have decided that their work is to force and intimidate. Today, I want to tell you that, you can’t do that to Uhuru Kenyatta,” he told delegates.
“When you gave us the mandate to lead the country and we did our best and handed over power in peace, publicly and in broad daylight.”
He accused his critics of abusing him and even alluded to the March attack on his family’s Northlands farm in Kiambu, saying he would remain Jubilee’s leader until the party’s members chose a new leader.
“Despite abuses and stealing goats and setting on fire people’s farms, the party has its owners and until they decide I should hand over, I’ll remain their party leader,” he said.
“Kenya is a democracy. The decision by Jubilee Party members is still binding. And until you, the members decide otherwise, Jubilee Party leadership will remain.”
At the same time, Kenyatta told any Jubilee member who is uncomfortable to leave in peace.
“People who were given small positions by Jubilee Party can’t dictate to us what to do. They should resign and get us back the small positions we’ve given them. Our symbol is dove, and that means peace,” he said.
He urged Jubilee politicians to refrain from abuses and name-calling, as well as the destruction of people’s property
“Those who are not happy with Jubilee’s stance, do us the honours and walk out of the door. Leave Jubilee on its track and stop saying Jubilee is dead. Why are you obsessive over a dead party if that is the case? They can’t let Jubilee be because they know very well it is not dead. We are very much alive and they will see it,” said the retired president.
