President William Ruto has appeared to respond to former President Uhuru Kenyatta's recent claim that the late Raila Odinga won the 2022 presidential election, urging political leaders to exercise restraint in their public statements.Speaking during a church service at the Pentecostal Church in Mwatate, Taita Taveta County, on Sunday, September 27, Ruto called on leaders to be responsible and conscious of the influence they have on the public.The President cautioned leaders against making statements while under the influence of alcohol or in a state he described as confused, saying such remarks could create unnecessary trouble.“As us leaders, if you are a leader, you are supposed to be a leading example. You cannot be a leader and then go for an important meeting while incoherent, then you tell youths or fellow leaders to have good habits,” Ruto said.Ruto added that leaders should be disciplined and careful about what they say, appearing to refer to the renewed debate over the 2022 election, which was held four years ago.“Please, leaders, let us be responsible. You go there, confused, then give contradictory remarks that do not make sense. As leaders, let us be people of respect, humble, and know that many other people are spending on us and watching,” he said.His remarks came days after Uhuru said he remained convinced that Raila had won the 2022 presidential election. The former President made the statement during a Jubilee Party meeting in Nairobi while defending his decision to support Raila's presidential bid.Uhuru said he and other leaders had done everything possible to support Raila and maintained that the late opposition leader received enough votes to win the presidency. He also said he knew how events unfolded after the election.The remarks triggered responses from political leaders, with UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar rejecting Uhuru's claim and maintaining that Ruto won the 2022 election. UDA leaders also questioned why the former President had revisited the election outcome years after the vote.ODM leader Oburu Oginga also responded to Uhuru's remarks, questioning why the former President handed over power to Ruto if he believed Raila had won the election. Oburu said the comments had revived questions surrounding the 2022 presidential contest.Ruto was declared the winner of the August 2022 presidential election with 7,176,141 votes against Raila's 6,942,930 votes, according to the official results. The Supreme Court subsequently upheld Ruto's election.Ruto told the Mwatate congregation that leaders should use their positions to mentor other politicians and citizens instead of setting a poor example through irresponsible conduct. “Let us help mentor other leaders and citizens by behaving responsibly ourselves,” the President said, as the renewed political exchange over the 2022 election continued to draw reactions from different political camps.
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