Former President and Jubilee Party leader Uhuru Kenyatta said Monday he will not be cowed by some leaders he accused of disrespecting him.
Speaking at the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) at the Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi, Kenyatta said he was ready to retire from active politics after passing the mantle to President William Ruto last year until some unnamed people started intimidating him.
“I wanted to shelve politics, but there are others who have decided that their work is to force and intimidate. Today, I want to tell you that, you can’t do that to Uhuru Kenyatta,” he told delegates.
“When you gave us the mandate to lead the country and we did our best and handed over power in peace, publicly and in broad daylight.”
He accused his detractors of abusing him and even alluded to March’s attack on his family’s Northlands farm in Kiambu, saying he remains Jubilee’s leader until the party members decide to pick another boss.
“Despite abuses and stealing goats and setting on fire people’s farms, the party has its owners and until they decide I should hand over, I’ll remain their party leader,” he said.
“Kenya is a democracy. The decision by Jubilee Party members is still binding. And until you, the members decide otherwise, Jubilee Party leadership will remain.”
The unknown people invaded the Kenyatta land along the Nairobi Eastern Bypass on March 27, cut down trees and made away with sheep.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was accused of orchestrating the raid, alongside that of opposition leader Raila Odinga’s gas plant along Mombasa Road on the same day.
At the same time, Kenyatta told any Jubilee member who is uncomfortable to leave in peace.
“People who were given small positions by Jubilee Party can’t dictate to us what to do. They should resign and get us back the small positions we’ve given them. Our symbol is dove, and that means peace,” he said.
He urged Jubilee politicians to refrain from abuses and name-calling, as well as the destruction of people’s property
“Those who are not happy with Jubilee’s stance, do us the honours and walk out of the door. Leave Jubilee on its track and stop saying Jubilee is dead. Why are you obsessive over a dead party if that is the case? They can’t let Jubilee be because they know very well it is not dead. We are very much alive and they will see it,” said the retired president.
