NAIROBI, Kenya – Interior and National Administration CS Kipchumba Murkomen has exuded confidence that President William Ruto will be re-elected contrary to belief he is unpopular.
The CS likened the current political and economic situation to that of 2005 after President Mwai Kibaki lost the referendum and dissolved his Cabinet.
In rallying for the broad-based government, which saw Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s allies join Cabinet after it’s dissolution last year in the aftermath of the Gen Z protest, Murkomen said it’s the best route to stabilise the country.
To Murkomen, Kibaki clinched his second term in 2007 under Party of National Unity (PNU) umbrella at a time people thought he had lost support of the electorate.
“After the 2005 referendum happened, few wanted to service in that cabinet . At that point in time,it looked like Kibaki was completely finished after he had bundled ODM, LDP then, out of government,” recounted Murkomen.
Speaking at the memorial service of the late minister John Koech at AGC Karen, the CS said what President Kibaki formed is akin to the broad-based government, which is the best decision to unite the country.
In the aftermath of the 2005 referendum loss, that saw Kibaki dissolve his cabinet, he said he needed a broad-based government at that time.
“What President Ruto did was not new. The challenges he is facing are not new. In 2005 Kibaki was the most unpopular person that everybody was saying uchumi ni ya watu wachache, but he is the most celebrated president today, “ said Murkomen.
He expressed optimism that the President will be re-elected and will be the most transformative president.
“The challenges that went through last yet and future of this country is in safe hands,” said the CS.
He said Koech helped Kibaki to extend his terms and reelected in 2007 reelection and in that process things happened.
“In times of great danger to the stability of a nation, only great leaders step forward to take the responsibility of steadying it. In 2005, John Koech didn’t hesitate for a moment when President Mwai Kibaki tapped him to join the Cabinet after a highly divisive referendum,” Murkomen said of Koech.
Koech is among the ministers who replaced Odinga and team after they won the referendum against the Narc government, which they were part of.
The CS therefore told off those doubting President Ruto’s re-election chances, that he will stabilise that country.
