President William Ruto yesterday maintained his hard stance against any political deal with Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga.

Ruto at the same time warned Raila against sponsoring anarchy in the country, maintaining that political contests are settled at the ballot.

Speaking during a development tour of Isiolo County, the President insisted that Kenyans elected the Kenya Kwanza government during last year’s presidential election and there is no room for power-sharing.

Claiming that the outcome of the presidential vote was a stamp of approval from God, Ruto asked Azimio leaders to embrace peace and wait for the 2027 General Election.

“I want to tell our good friends that the people of Kenya have spoken loudly and clearly that they do not want chaos, they don’t want violence, they don’t want anarchy, they don’t want the destruction of property and businesses,’’ Ruto said, apparently referring to the ongoing anti-government protests spearheaded by the Azimio la Umoja over the high cost of living.

“The people of Kenya have said we are a democratic country, we respect the votes of ordinary citizens and when the people of Kenya have spoken, it is like God has spoken.”

At the same time, Ruto dismissed any attempts to sabotage the economy using violence.
“ Every Kenyan has said that we cannot sabotage our economy using violence and destruction of business and destruction of property. Kenya is the only place we have to call home and we must protect it by all means.”

“ We must protect our democracy, we must protect the peace in the country because it is the collective responsibility of all of us as citizens,” he said.

The head of state further lauded the police for maintaining law and order in the face of provocation by the protestors.

Ruto’s defence of the police is likely to draw the ire of various stakeholders who have repeatedly accused the law enforcement officers of using excessive force to crush the protests.

The Catholic bishops have criticized the police for using excessive force on protestors while Amnesty International has accused the police of killing at least thirty protestors since the demonstrations started.
IPOA investigations

The office of the Ombudsman has equally demanded that the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) immediately commence investigations into police brutality during the anti-government demonstrations across the country.

The president and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua have repeatedly claimed that Raila and his Azimio supporters are waging the protests to force the government into a power-sharing deal.

Referring to the sanctity of the vote yesterday, Ruto fired at Raila saying that he should espouse the democratic ideals that he claims to be preaching.

“There is no way we are going to change what our democracy stands for and what our country stands for,’’ he said.

The President asked Kenyans to stand firm against any provocations and instead work together for the stability of the country.

“I want to tell the people of Kenya that all of us must protect our country,” the President said.

The President spoke a day after opposition politicians started three –days of countrywide protests against his government.

Raila has called Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government as being insensitive to the plight of Kenyans.
While addressing people in Isiolo on Thursday Ruto cited the lack of development in Isiolo town was caused by lack of title deeds by landowners. He further stated that in the next three years, they will have issued up to 30,000 title deeds to the people of Isiolo.

“In Isiolo County, I would like to assure you that all the adjudications of this county will receive 30,000 titles,” said the head of state.

The president was on a tour of Isiolo and Meru counties where he commissioned development projects.
President Ruto commissioned the upgrading to paved standard and performance-based routine maintenance of the Isiolo Town Roads (LOT 2) in Isiolo County.