‘Hakuna haja ya kusema watu wako na mapepo’ – Gachagua criticises Ruto over his recent remarks

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has castigated his former boss, President William Ruto, following his recent outburst where he called those opposed to some government programmes stupid and possessed with evil spirits.

Speaking on Sunday, December 15, 2024, Gachagua reprimanded the Head of State maintaining that hurling insults is not the best way to address their concerns regarding various policies.

Instead of abusing them, Gachagua appealed to President Ruto to listen and ignore what he did not like.

While advising him to tone down the rhetoric, Gachagua reminded his former boss that the same people he was abusing elevated him to the highest office of the land.

He specifically pointed out the livestock vaccination programme where he stated that Ruto’s administration had resolved to hurl insulative words instead of explaining in detail what it entails.

“Hakuna haja ya kutukana raia. Hawa wananchi wakitoa maoni yao, wewe sikiza tu, hata kama hupendi, hakuna haja ya kusema wako na mapepo kwa sababu hakuna haja. (There is no need of abusing the citizens. When these people give their views, you just listen; even if you do not like it, there is no need of saying that they are possessed with evil spirits).

“Kama ni mambo ya ng’ombe unasema, hawa watu ni stupid, hakuna haja. Wacha kutukana watu; it is not necessary, especially people ambao walikupatia kazi. (This issue about animal vaccination that you are calling some people stupid, there is no need. Stop abusing people; it is not necessary, especially because these people elected you),” Gachagua pleaded with Ruto.

“There is no need to abuse the people of Kenya; just listen to what they are saying. if you don’t like it, it is okay, but there is no need to abuse the people of Kenya,” he insisted.

Ruto attacks opponents

Ruto fired at those who are opposed to the national livestock vaccination programme slated for next year, describing them as either possessed by evil spirits, unreasonable, mad, or stupid.

Speaking after attending the 4th Pastoralist Leadership Summit in Wajir County, Ruto trained his guns at dissenters opposed to the government’s plan to roll out a nationwide vaccination programme targeting 22 million heads of cattle from January 2025.

“Anybody opposing vaccination to eliminate FMD and PPR is simply mad and unreasonable and possibly stupid,” he said.

“Honestly, how else can you explain it? You don’t know about livestock; shut up, at least for those of us who keep cattle. There is an evil spirit in Kenyans; they oppose everything by spreading lies,” the president added.