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Jubilee party leader Fred Matiang’i has urged President William Ruto to stop attacking retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and focus on running the country, saying Kenyans deserve answers to the challenges they face.

Speaking at an event in Kajiado, Matiang’i said the presidency was a symbol of national unity and called on leaders to respect the institution and allow former heads of state to retire without being drawn into political exchanges.

“Wengine wetu tunajizuia kwa sababu tunaheshimu ofisi ya rais. Wale waanzilishi wa nchi yetu ya Kenya walisema kwamba, na hata Katiba inasema, that is a symbol of national unity,” Matiang’i said.

He urged leaders to conduct political affairs respectfully and focus on addressing national challenges.

“Sasa tumefika wakati wa kupanga nchi yetu, tufanye hivyo kwa heshima na kuendesha nchi yetu mbele,” he said.

Matiang’i also condemned insults directed at Kenyatta and questioned the continued criticism of the retired President.

“Matusi kuelekezwa kwa Rais mstaafu Uhuru Kenyatta hayafai, wananchi mnaona hiyo ni kweli kabisa?” he posed.

“Tunaambia Mheshimiwa Rais awachane na Uhuru Kenyatta,” Matiang’i said, urging Ruto to concentrate on his responsibilities instead of repeatedly speaking about his predecessor, who left office in 2022.

“Endesha kazi, wewe umepewa kazi, uko kwa ofisi kubwa. Wachana na maneno ya rais ambaye amestaafu na kupiga nduru kila siku kusema Uhuru hii, Uhuru ile na mambo kama hayo,” he said.

Matiang’i said Kenyatta had left the Jubilee Party leadership structures and the Azimio coalition and had since taken up an advisory role in Jubilee.

“Uhuru Kenyatta hata ametoka kwa chama, amekuwa sasa mshauri wa chama cha Jubilee, ametoka pia Azimio,” he said.

He said Ruto and his team should focus on governing the country and answering questions raised by Kenyans.

“Sasa inastahili sisi wenyewe, Mheshimiwa Rais na wale mnashirikiana nao mfanye kazi yenu ya kuongoza nchi na kujibu maswali yanayoulizwa na Wakenya kwa sababu Wakenya hawawezi kuenda Uganda kutafuta majibu,” Matiang’i said.

His remarks came a day after President William Ruto revisited his political differences with retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, recalling their years of cooperation and accusing his predecessor of failing to honour an understanding.

Speaking in Uasin Gishu County during his North Rift development tour, Ruto said he had supported Kenyatta in the 2013 and 2017 elections, expecting the former President to back his presidential bid after serving two terms.

“I, William Ruto, voted for you four times. I stood with you when you began your journey to seek leadership. I stood with you in 2013. I stood with you in 2017. You said 10 years of Uhuru, 10 years of Ruto,” he said.

Ruto said their political relationship changed during the 2022 presidential election, when Kenyatta backed Raila Odinga instead of his former deputy.

“When the time came for you to stand with me, you avoided me, and you told Kenyans not to vote for me,” Ruto said.