Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has mourned former Cabinet Minister Cyrus Jirongo as a staunch defender of multi-party democracy and a political heavyweight he said possessed the stature and capability to become President.
Speaking during Jirongo’s burial in Lumakanda, Kakamega County, Kenyatta praised the late politician as a custodian of democratic ideals and cautioned against efforts to weaken rival political parties for short-term political gain.
The former Head of State also sought to distance himself from claims that he is attempting to destabilise the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) through proxies, allegations that have recently been levelled against him by a section of ODM leaders.
”Wale wamebaki kwa chama chake tutawasaidia in your party. Hata tukiambiwa tunaenda kwa zingine ati kununua, jamani wakenya. Toa hiyo fikira mbovu nenda zungumza na wananchi, unda na usimamishe chama chako, kuwa na sera zako kama mwanaume kama Cyrus Jirongo,” Uhuru said.
”Mimi ni mstaafu lakini kusema mstaafu sio kusema uniingize kidole kwa macho, pia mimi nitakuingiza kwa sababu hatuogopi,” he added.
In a veiled jab at President William Ruto, Kenyatta urged the current administration to focus on selling its development agenda to Kenyans rather than engaging in political manoeuvres involving rival parties
