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Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of using his close allies to attack Kenyans who are opposed to his administration.

Gachagua claimed it was hypocritical for Ruto to expect the youth to stop online attacks directed to his government yet his men are setting the pace for insults in public spaces.

The former DP said it is Ruto who actually cultivated the culture of disrespecting leaders among the youth as he addressed Kenyans in political rallies.

“You are the one who started the trend of insulting leaders. You told us Uhuru is a drunkard and Raila is a witchdoctor (mganga). Now you are sending your allies to insult Kenyans and our children are learning from you,” he said. “You said we are possessed by evil spirits, then your allies took over.”

Parents’ call

Gachagua who spoke when he attended a church service at Dandora AIPCA, Embakasi North said even as parents heed to the President’s calls of taking charge of their children, Ruto must also call his allies to order.

“In as much as you say we have not brought up our children well, before you remove the speck in our eye, remove the log in yours. Your friends and those who hang around you are the ones insulting more and our children are learning from them. Yet as the President, you have failed to restrain them,” he said.

Gachagua singled out Dadaab MP Farah Maalim and his Kikuyu counterpart Kimani Ichung’wah who also doubles up as the National Assembly Majority Leader as vocal Ruto’s allies out to silence his critics.

“This young man (Ichung’wah) is Ruto’s attack dog. He works under the instruction of whom to insult and who to heap fictitious blames on. When he is doing his master’s work, Ruto is always laughing because he is the one who sends him,” Gachagua said.

He said the two have joined a group of other youthful MPs from Rift Valley who have turned to insulting Kenyans and especially women while the President laughed.