Deputy President William Ruto has not denied that he almost slapped President Uhuru Kenyatta for almost dropping the ball in the run-up to the 2017 repeat Presidential elections.
This is after an audio recording emerged of him telling a group of elders that he almost slapped Uhuru after he hinted at dropping out of the presidential race after his victory was annulled by the Supreme Court.
The DP while addressing a rally on Monday in Meru county dismissed the criticism he received from the Azimio coalition over the leaked audio.
He, however, did not deny that he made the claims and went on to say that he indeed pushed the President not to quit.
Ruto said they had fought hard for the presidency and he could not allow Uhuru to quit at the eleventh hour.
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He said millions of Kenyans turned up to vote for Uhuru and it was, therefore, his responsibility to ensure that they keep the fight till the end.
"Ata hiyo vitu mnazungusha kwa maredio ati William Ruto alisukuma Uhuru Kenyatta sijui namna gani, kwani mlikua mnataka Uhuru Kenyatta awache kiti ambayo sisi tulikua tumeamkia saa Kumi na moja asubuhi kumpigia Kura awe rais. Kwendeni Kabisa. Sisi ndo tuliamka mapema kumpigia Kura rais awe rais. Je nyinyi watu wa Meru, Mungetaka mimi niruhusu Uhuru awache ile kiti abayo tulikua tumempatia? Ati awachie mtu ya Kitendawili?," Ruto said.
Ruto was speaking in Kithirune, Central Imenti in Meru county on Monday.
The DP went on to seemingly justify his alleged remarks in the leaked audio saying even if he intended to slap Uhuru for daring to quit, that was not wrong.
He said they will not be cowed by the audio recording saying it was his duty to fight until the end.
"Ata kama nilimlazimisha Uhuru Kenyatta awe rais, iko Makosa? Watu wa Azimio wacheni Ujinga. Wanazungusha record ooh Ruto, ooh alikua analazimisha Uhuru Kenyatta awe Rais. Ata mngekua mimi, mngekubali Uhuru atuwache kwa mataa na vile tulikua tumemsukuma?"
The DP further claimed that he is the one who did the most job in ensuring that Uhuru wins the Presidency.
He said he campaigned for Uhuru more than anybody else in a bid to ensure he wins the presidency
" Kwanza mimi ndo nilikua nafanya campaign kubwa. Nilikua naamka asubuhi nafanya camapigns tatu kabla rais hajaamka na ni kwa sababu ni rafiki yangu. Na hakuna vile ningewacha kitendawili amnyang'anye hiyo kiti. Ata kama nikusukuma yeye namna gani."
