President William Ruto on Sunday, April 16, revealed that had a sit-down with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka after winning the August 2022 presidential elections and asked him to join his administration.

Speaking during an interdenominational prayer service at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, Ruto stated that the move was meant to honour a promise he had made to the people of Machakos before the polls. 

He stated that at the time of his meeting with Kalonzo, the Kenya Kwanza wing was considering the former Vice President for the position of the Speaker of the National Assembly.

“I promised that if I won, I would look for Kalonzo because he had been troubled by the others. I don't want to be a liar, I want to say the truth, when I won the elections, I looked for Kalonzo and sat down with him.

“I told him to come and join my administration. There was a vacancy in the Speaker’s position and others because I did not want you to blame me later,” he stated.

However, Ruto noted that Kalonzo declined his offer and chose to continue his support of the Azimio coalition.

Ruto added that he gave the positions to other individuals respecting the decision the Wiper leader had made.

“I have discharged my responsibility because I spoke to him and he told me that he wanted to continue with the other team, what was I supposed to do?” he added.

The Head of State noted that the decision made by Kalonzo did not deter him from including members of the Akamba community in his government adding that he ensured all communities were represented.

Ruto stated that he would pick more members of the Akamba community in his government asking them to distance themselves from the Azimio mass protest.

“Even if he refused to work with me, I vowed to look for other leaders from ‘Ukambani’ to work with me to ensure that the people here were included in my government,” Ruto stated.

“I will even include more members from ‘Ukambani’ to my government because I cannot allow others to destroy this community with demonstrations that will not be of help to anyone,” added Ruto.

Earlier in January 2023, Kalonzo affirmed his support to Azimio leader Raila Odinga pledging his support to ensure that Ruto was held accountable. 

Ruto appointed Dr Alfred Mutua, the former Machakos Governor as Kenya's Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary. He also picked Peninah Malonza to head the Tourism sector. The region also has a number of government appointees, including Jonathan Mueke, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports and Monica Juma, an Advisor to the President.