Plan to Block DP William Ruto's 2022 Presidential Bid Still On, Former Jubilee Vice-Chair David Murathe Says

Former Jubilee Party vice-chairperson David Murathe says he is still committed to blocking Deputy President William Ruto's 2022 presidential bid.

Speaking to Capital FM News, Murathe says he is laying down plans to stop Ruto, including seeking the Supreme Court's opinion on the DP's eligibility to run for the seat.

He further says his silence on the matter should not be misconstrued to mean that he has abandoned his plans.

“Our legal team is working on the relevant legal arguments to present in court because the issue on whether a Deputy President can run in a presidential contest raises serious fundamental questions that must be addressed. But in the meantime, we will be starting with the constitutional court,” he says.

Murathe further explains that he will pursue alternative means to block Ruto from the ballot even if the apex court rules that he's eligible to run.

“It is a conversation that is happening with our legal team on whether to do it legally or politically because some of the amendments can be amended through a referendum so that there can be clarity,” he notes.

“Some of us who doubt Ruto’s suitability to ascend to power are obligated to sell our reasons to the public keeping in mind that the public may decide to either accept or reject our reasoning. But I can say with a lot of confidence that there is a lot of people who think that Ruto is not fit to lead this country and personally I still don’t believe that he should be president,” he adds.

Murathe, who resigned from his position as the governing party's vice chairman two weeks ago, says Ruto's allies are some of the reasons he is opposed to him succeeding President Kenyatta in 2022. 

“What they think is their democratic right; I don’t need them because I will go directly to the people. Most of the people surrounding the Deputy President are the cause of our agitation because they removed the right and preferred people in leadership in the Mount Kenya region and instead installed cartoons and I don’t care what they think,” he says.