Kenya’s president asks his deputy to quit
Kenyatta accuses his deputy, William Ruto, of not doing enough to help Kenya deal with its struggling economy, and said he should not criticise the government from within
Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, has asked his deputy, William Ruto, to resign, as a bitter row between the two intensifies ahead of the general election in August.
Kenyatta has accused Ruto of not doing enough to help the country deal with the struggling economy, and says he should not criticise the government from within.
But in a tweet, the deputy president claimed the cabinet had not met in more than two years and told President Kenyatta that he was just a phone call away.
The president does not have the power to sack his deputy – he can only be removed from office if he is impeached or is incapacitated.
The differences between President Kenyatta and his deputy have played out openly as Kenya mourned the death of the former head of state Mwai Kibaki. Throughout Friday’s state funeral, President Kenyatta declined to shake Ruto’s hand.
The falling-out is largely due to August’s general election.
Ruto wants to run for president, but President Kenyatta has instead backed the main opposition leader, Raila Odinga.
The economy has been a major issue in the run-up to the elections. Kenya is facing record levels of inflation, with commodities such as cooking oil and fuel going up in price.
Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
99.5 in Accra, 101.5 in Bawku, 99.9 in Bimbilla, 100.3 in Cape Coast, 90.7 in Ho, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 89.5 in Tarkwa and 106.9 in Walewale
Join the conversation. Call: 020 000 9951 or 059 415 7777. Or WhatsApp: 020 000 0995.
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand
