"No Retreat, No Surrender": Ruto Responds After Uhuru Dared Him to Resign

Deputy President William Ruto has responded after President Kenyatta challenged him to resign from the government.

On Monday, Kenyatta said the deputy president should quit instead of criticizing the same government he is part of and, at the same time, taking credit for its achievements.

“The honorable thing is that if you are not happy is you step aside and allow those who want to move on, to move on. So that you can also take your agenda to the people. This is what happens in any normal democracy. You can’t have your cake and eat it,” Kenyatta stated.

He went on, "You must decide where you want to. Not to sing praises of the government and speak another language the other side.”

In a rejoinder on Tuesday, Ruto declared that he will not resign, saying he was rightfully elected alongside the president.

He reiterated that he would continue advocating for what he believes is the best direction for the country and what is not good for Kenyans.

“And for those who have a problem, I want to ask them for forgiveness and I want to tell them I am a man on a mission. I have no space to retreat and I don’t have the luxury to surrender… I’m a man on a mission to ensure the jobless, those running small businesses, the many farmers who are struggling they too become part of our nation,” Ruto said during the burial of Mahoo Ward MCA Ronald Habel Sagurani in Taita Taveta.

He added, “We have decided that we are going to change the economy and we are going to have a bottom-up economic experience in Kenya that is going to lift those without jobs and empower those with small businesses so that we can build a nation where no Kenyan is left behind.”