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For the third time in a week, Deputy President William Ruto yesterday took the government head-on, accusing it of perpetuating corruption and police brutality.

In the latest tirade unleashed, Ruto called on civil servants and police officers to work professionally and warned politicians against using law enforcement agents for their own selfish intentions.

“I want to tell every public servant and every police officer that they must serve professionally in accordance with the law and the Constitution and no one should blackmail or intimidate them to run political errands and agendas for anybody.

Politicians must learn to do their thing and run their errands and agendas without involving our public servants or police officers that have nothing to do with politics,” Ruto said.

In an earlier tweet, Ruto had sarcastically responded to an article in a local daily that referred to him as a spectator in government, by stating; “At least for once it won’t be possible to be blamed for what someone said started in Wuhan as a virus, landed in Italy as a pandemic and now in Kenya as multi-billion-shilling corruption enterprise.” Wacha niendelee kama spectator.”

It was a thinly veiled attack on the government over its utilisation of billions of shillings meant to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) says it is already seized of the matter and has promised an expeditious investigation to nail the so-called “Covid-19 billionaires.”

Yesterday’s attack came only two days after Ruto joined opposition leader Raila Odinga in attacking the government over the arrest of three senators terming the action as an affront to democracy and freedom of speech.

On Tuesday, Ruto had defended the government over the arrest of the three Senators on Monday saying they were sanctioned by people outside government.

He said police officers should not involve themselves in political battles but should instead focus on serving the country.

On Wednesday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i denied claims that he authorised the arrest of senators, Christopher Lang’at, Cleopas Malala and Steve Lelegwe.

Speaking in Meru over the weekend, Ruto again revisited the issue and cautioned public servants against being used to perpetuate certain political agendas.

Defended government 

He asked them to serve Kenyans in accordance with the law rather than blackmailing and intimidating others to achieve political ends.

“We live in a country that is free and democratic. To try and use the criminal justice system to perpetuate a certain political agenda is in itself criminal,” the Deputy President who spoke on Sunday in Buuri, Meru County, where he attended a prayer service at the Catholic Church of Uganda Martyrs Kibirichia Parish, said.

Ruto said Governors, Senators, Members of National Assembly and Members of County Assembly were being blackmailed because of their political choices.

He noted that if some people were uncomfortable with leaders associating with him, they should “come forward and face me instead of hiding behind some shadows.”

Ruto said the Jubilee administration had invested resources in transforming the country’s police with the aim of turning it into a professional outfit.

“Every Kenyan is entitled to the services of a professional, well-trained police that is focused on protecting and serving the interests of every citizen. That is why we changed it from a force to a service,” he explained.

MPs Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), James Gakuya (Embakasi North), George Theuri (Embakasi West) and Nixon Korir (Lang’ata) attended yesterday’s event in which Ruto hosted a delegation from Kibra and Lang’ata constituencies.

He said the Jubilee administration would not condone the use of the might of the police against citizens and their leaders.

He  asked police officers to shun being abused by politicians to run their personal errands.

“I want to tell public officers including police officers, you must serve professionally in accordance with the law and the constitution.”

He also urged politicians to run their own political agendas without involving public servants who have nothing to do with politics.

Ruto said Kenyans elected the Jubilee administration to serve their interests and not those of politicians.

Gakuya asked those who orchestrated the arrest of the Senators not to take the country back to the dark days.

“We are past the dark days of threats and intimidation; the country is now under a new constitution which must be respected.”

Jubilee administration

Ichung’wa reminded those in power disguised as the Deep State that the ultimate power belonged to the people.

Those who accompanied Ruto in Meru included Senator Mithika Linturi, MPs Rindikiri Mugambi (Buuri), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Kirima Nguchine (Central Imenti), Gichunge Kabeabea (Tigania East) and Halima Mucheke (Nominated).

Others present were Kawira Mwangaza (Woman Rep, Meru), Kanyuithia Mutunga (Tigania West) and Kubai Iringo (Igembe Central).

Linturi asked the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Kenya Revenue Authority and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to discharge their mandate independently.

He regretted that these bodies had been infiltrated by politicians and turned into outfits that intimidate others.

In particular, the Meru Senator cautioned DCI boss George Kinoti against being abused.