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Noah Cheploen @cheploennoah

Deputy President William Ruto has said all kind of propaganda and mud-slinging have been directed at him because of his decision to run for the presidency in 2022 but warned his detractors that he will not be distracted by sideshows. 

Using an analogy of the elephant and his big tusks, Ruto said he had learned to carry the burden that comes with being at the centre of attention in the country’s leadership because it is a path he chose when he joined elective politics 23 years ago.

“Just like the elephant I will also carry mine (burden) because I brought this to myself when I left Sugoi. If I had stayed there nobody would be writing stories about me…” he said. 

“There is a lot of idle talk doing rounds because my opponents are scared that I might run for presidency but I don’t know why they are panicking…” he said, adding: “It is a personal decision but whether I run or not Rift Valley and Kenya must be peaceful.”

“What is all this noise for? What for? They should relax. God willing, Kenyans will vote for their candidate of choice in 2022 and life will continue normally,” said the DP. 

As he sought to calm rising political temperatures in the country, Ruto cautioned politicians engaging in inflammatory talk and politics of division that the law will soon catch up with them.

“I want to warn young politicians that politics of division and hate cannot take you anywhere and they should also know that sheria ni kama msumeno inakata mbele na nyuma (law is like a saw which cuts on both sides),” he said.

Speaking during the funeral service for Wambui Kimotho, the mother of prominent Nakuru businessman Samuel Mwangi, the DP assured Nakuru residents that together with President Uhuru Kenyatta, they will ensure that peace prevails in the country. 

“As a leader from Rift Valley, I want to assure you that this country will never go back to the days of ethnic violence because that is a decision we made (to bring Kenyans together) and despite the challenges we are going through this country will remain united,” he said. 

In slight reference to the sentiments attributed to Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina during the Narok BBI rally last week, Ruto said every citizen is free to live and own property in any part of the country as prescribed by the law. 

Overcome waves

“Every Kenyan is free to do business, to buy land or vie for any political position in the country… and that is the position of the government of Kenya and it is not going to change,” he said.

He assured Jubilee supporters that the party is going to overcome the strong waves it is currently experiencing.

 “The government is not going to tolerate leaders who engage in incitement and politics of ethnic hatred because we will not watch the going back to the days of bloodshed and destruction of property,” he said. 

“Some of them (politicians) are young and they should tread carefully because politics based on hate and bloodbath is cursed. It will not take you anywhere,” he stated.

Although, Ruto struck a reconciliatory tone, Members of Parliament who accompanied him, led by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati), Mugambi Murwithani (Buuri) and Caleb Kositany (Soi) came out guns blazing, saying Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) had become breeding ground for hate speech. 

They particularly accused Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga of turning BBI into a platform to attack other communities. 

“If I tell you kick out this or that community, please condemn me because we have to be true before man and God…” said Kuria.

“I was with him (Raila) in Murang’a and waited him to condemn Ledama for what he said in Narok but he did not…” he added.

 Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui said they are organising a BBI rally to be held at Afraha Stadium but warned leaders who have a penchant for engaging in hate speech that they are not welcome.