Editor's Review

Ruto in a meeting with a group of elders said he almost slapped the president.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has come clean on the alleged standoff that saw Deputy President William Ruto say he almost slapped him for almost quitting ahead of the 2017 repeat presidential elections.

Uhuru on Friday in a meeting with a group of religious leaders from the Mt Kenya region said it is indeed true he wanted to quit his push for the presidency if it meant the country will remain peaceful.

The President divulged that even if Ruto wanted to slap him for taking the stand, he would not mind giving him another side of his cheek to do so.

"I hear some people met and they were told I was willing to go home to Ichaweri, that is true. I was willing to give us this seat to save this country from war and bloodshed. There are those who were adamant that it did not matter how many people died, they would not give up. For me, I do not believe any position is worth the price of human life."

{President Uhuru Kenyatta during a meeting with religious leaders on Friday, July 8, 2022.}

He added:

"They are saying they wanted to slap me but even if they did, I would have given them the other cheek. Maybe that would have made them feel better and save this country," the President said.

This comes after leaked audio emerged of the DP saying the President was almost quitting the race and that he had to push him to the end.

Ruto in a meeting with a group of elders said he almost slapped Uhuru was it no the respect he gave him because he was the president.

The remarks attracted condemnation from a section of Kenyans especially those allied to the Azimio coalition.