This archive report was first published on 20 July 2020.
On July 20, 2020, respected columnist and academician Prof Makau Mutua revealed that Deputy President William Ruto had reached out to him with a possible working relationship ahead of the 2022 polls.
Prof Mutua, who is a harsh critic of the DP and also the chair of the Kenya Human Rights Commission, made the revelation in his weekly column in the Sunday Nation.
According to Prof Mutua, he 'recently' received the request to work with Ruto via an emissary, but he has rejected the offer outright.
“Several weeks ago, I was bamboozled when a top commander in Deputy President William Ruto’s campaign locomotive begged me to work with them to get the man from Sugoi to State House in 2022,” wrote Prof Mutua.
He added, “Today, I give the answer. Mr Ruto and his campaign team should read my lips – or rather the words from the tip of my pen. The answer is nyet. I can’t – and won’t – work with Mr Ruto. Never. Ever. Case closed,”
Prof Mutua justified his reasons by citing the corruption allegations levelled against the DP, as well as the allegations of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) which the DP has since been acquitted.
