President William Ruto agreed with Constitutional Lawyer Senior Counsel Abdikadir Mohamed, who claimed that any Kenyan who elects a thief and expects them not to steal their resources was not serious.
Speaking during the Katiba Day Symposium on Thursday, August 27, Ruto stated that Kenyans must exercise their democratic right to choose what is best for the country.
He agreed with Mohamed, and added a list of leaders that Kenyans should not expect anything from.
"Let me paraphrase what Abdikadir said. If you choose a thief and expect them not to steal from you, you are not being intelligent.
"If you choose somebody incompetent and expect them to deliver on anything, then you are not being serious. If you choose a person who has no vision, plan or agenda, and expect them to take your country anywhere, then you are not being serious," Ruto reiterated.
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The President admitted that he that his administration struggled with matters of gender equity, which is a requirement in public service.
He hinted that he is in a position to do something about the Cabinet's compliance with the two-thirds gender rule.
However, Ruto defended his efforts to achieve the constitutional threshold, explaining that if other appointees who are not necessarily Cabinet Secretaries were factored into the count, then the Cabinet would have complied.
"I would try to mitigate my situation by saying I have appointed the first-ever Woman Attorney General. I can also say that maybe by appointment, the Cabinet does not meet the two-thirds gender rule, but by operation, it does. I do not only have the AG, but I also have the Secretary to the Cabinet," he defended himself.
The President maintained that his administration has guaranteed Kenyans their constitutional rights by translating them into practical benefits across healthcare, housing, education, agriculture and devolution.
Earlier, Former Chief Justice David Maraga claimed that the Constitution of Kenya was under siege. He explained that it had been subjected to incessant violations, and opined that every Kenyan must be ready to defend it.
Maraga particularly called out Parliament for failing to execute its constitutional mandate to provide checks and balances on the Executive.
