National Assembly Security Committee chairman Paul Koinange has warned that the  “hustlers versus dynasties” narrative being propagated  by Deputy President William Ruto and his allies, to advance their 2022 ambitions could trigger a violent and costly insurgency.

 Koinange (pictured), who is the Kiambaa MP, said the narrative will incite the low against the middle and upper classes.

“The narrative may gain traction as politicians persuade the lower class to support them, but what is happening is inciting and dividing Kenyans on the basis of riches and poverty.

Those who do not have wealth are being convinced they are still poor because the rich took everything.

What will happen is the low class will create an uprising, to take away the wealth by force and we will have people dying and property being destroyed,” Koinange said yesterday.

The MP drew parallels with the uprisings in Rwanda genocide where the Hutus and Tutsis butchered each other in a civil war.

Wheelbarrows

Ruto, who has been using the slogan and has been issuing wheelbarrows and handcarts to the youth has been widely criticised by politicians allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga ,who accuse him of exploiting the narrative to ascend to power.

Koinange said the issuance of handouts to the electorate was intended to manipulate them for short-term political gains.

Politicians in positions of power, the lawmaker said, should explore serious policies to address issues of unemployment among the youth without inciting them or reducing them to beneficiaries of freebies. 

“Unemployment is still a big issue among the youth in this country. But giving out free things like wheelbarrows is not the best approach because we are showing the youth people to depend on handouts instead of working hard,” he added.

But Kimilili MP Didmas Barasa, an ally of the DP dismissed Koinange’s claims. He instead argued that the donations to the youth were intended to lift them out of unemployment.

He stated that the DP’s actions were as a result of the government’s failure to address unemployment in the country.

“If we are truly building bridges then we must  wide ranging consensus building. We cannot build bridges in an environment of blackmail and intimidation for everyone matters” he said.