President Uhuru Kenyatta has dares his rebel deputy Wiliam Ruto to resign from the government if he is unsatisfied with his leadership.

President Kenyatta, who was speaking to senior media editors at State House Nairobi, told Ruto to quit and pursue his personal political interests if he is unhappy in his government.

"If you are not happy, step aside and allow those who want to move on do so, then take your agenda to the people. That is what happens in democracy, you cannot ride on what we have done and talk a different language on the side," President Kenyatta said.  

“It’s like throwing stones in a glass house that you live in,” he said.

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He faulted his deputy for bashing the government from within for what he termed as its failures while at the same time taking credit for its successful development projects.

He, similarly, said he had accepted the decision of the Court of Appeal that spelt a death knell to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), even as he said he did not agree with it.

"BBI is not personal for me. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve. Part of my agenda is to bring people together and maintain a peaceful, stable, united country. The courts have been highly misguided on that process, it is not a competition issue," Uhuru said.


Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto. PHOTO/COURTESY

On being asked about why he did not include Ruto in the BBI train, the Head of State said he could not force the unwilling deputy into a course he is opposed to and does not believe in.

"He (DP Ruto) has been opposed to the process, meetings are not about selecting a candidate. You cannot bring someone who is opposed & does not want to see things happen on board. You cannot force something down someone’s throat," Uhuru said.

He added, "He is trying to create a base for future politics, which is his right, but the manner in which he is doing it in is unfortunate. By going against the same government, is wrong. What we are trying to achieve with BBI is what brought him and I together."