William Ruto Hits At Leaders Advancing Tribal Politics Days After Gachagua Called For Mt Kenya Unity

• Politics of ethnicity and regional unity seem not to be sitting well with President William Ruto who spoke against it in Bungoma
• The head of state said the focus among leaders and holders of power should be on solving the traditional challenges bedevilling Kenyans
• Ruto's remarks came in light of his deputy Rigathi Gachagua's preachings of unity in the Mt Kenya region

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Bungoma: President William Ruto has detested the trend of ethnic politics in the country, arguing that they would impede the nation's quest to make progress.

What did Ruto say?

Seeming to discredit his deputy Rigathi Gachagua's preoccupation with the unity of his native Mt Kenya region, Ruto noted that the era of regional politics and leaders identifying with their ethnic extractions was long gone.

In place of pointless politics, Ruto said he would focus on developing the country and finding solutions to the challenges bedevilling the citizenry.

"Going into the future, I want to promise the people of Kenya, that we will not let down. We will never go back to the politics of ethnicity, personalities and people not being at the centre. I want to assure you that we will work hard to make sure that our politics is focused on the agenda of developing Kenya and dealing with the challenge of corruption, wasteful spending and unnecessary use of public resources," said the president.

This came as Gachagua claimed there were unnamed individuals plotting against the Mt Kenya region.

During a thanksgiving ceremony at Mutonyora Comprehensive School in Njabini on Friday, May 31, the DP warned Mt Kenya residents about a bleak future.

The DP, who spoke in his native Kikuyu language stated the individuals were sowing seeds of disunity among Mt Kenya residents.

Analysts have argued that the DP is out to consolidate his influence in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region amid reports of a split in the ruling United Democratic Alliance(UDA) party.

What is Gachagua's plan to counter those against him

Gachagua turned to the elderly generation in the region, likening the politicians who he accused of being used to sow disunity in children.

The DP urged parents from the region to engage their children, arguing that divisions in the Mt. would end in unspecified problems.