Inside Politics

Ruto tames tongue as Kuria stings at Uhuru village visit

Monday, March 21st, 2022 06:00 | By
Deputy President William Ruto addresses Gatundu residents in Kiambu county on Friday. COURTESY/DPPS
Deputy President William Ruto addresses Gatundu residents in Kiambu county on Friday. COURTESY/DPPS

Deputy President William Ruto’s tour of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Gatundu South home sparked a storm despite him toning down his hardline stance against his boss.

 Throughout his campaign trail of the constituency, the UDA presidential flagbearer for the August election remained calm and calculated in his remarks, but his allies including host MP Moses Kuria were spoiling for a fight.

Kuria used the occasion to launch a stinging attack on the President for backing Azimio la Umoja’s Raila Odinga, claiming this goes against an oath taken in 1969 by Gatundu elders, including Uhuru’s father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

“The President may bring a curse to his family by deciding to go against the oath in which the elders vowed never to support or vote for an uncircumcised man,” said Kuria in a statement that attracted condemnation in social media platforms.

Kuria, who is the Chama Cha Kazi leader and an aspirant for the Kiambu governorship, has since attempted to beat a retreat through his Facebook page in which he says his critics should not crucify him over the remarks.

“For the record I was not yet born in 1969. However, I keep receiving accounts from people who partook in the #IchaweriOath wondering what to do. Capt Kung’u Muigai raised the same issue recently and he didn’t get the condemnation I am getting. Why crucify me,” he wrote on the page. 

 During the visit, Ruto, who was accompanied by his fellow Kenya Kwanza co-princils Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula among other leaders, made a passionate plea to President Kenyatta to withdraw his backing of chief opponent Raila.

 “With a lot of humility, I am sending you the people of Gatundu with a message to my friend and brother President Kenyatta to remember how far we have come together. Tell him to vacate the political battle between me and Raila,” the DP said at Mutomo village a stone’s throw-away from Uhuru’s Ichaweri rural home. Ruto recalled during the two terms he and the President sought re-election, they always asked for the blessings, prayers and support of Gatundu voters, including from Mama Ngina Kenyatta herself.

Political sword

 “I am asking my friend the President not to use the same political sword we had used together to undermine me. He should leave me to face Raila in the race for the presidency,” said Ruto.

 He added; “I have come here to thank you for your prayers and support when we first visited Gatundu in 2013 with my friend Uhuru at a time when we were facing criminal charges at the ICC and your prayers enabled us to win the election despite the circumstances,” the DP said. 

 In the tour Ruto was also acommpanied by Thika MP Patrick Wainaina ‘Jungle’ and Senator Kimani Wamatangi, who are also eyeing the Kiambu governor’s seat.

 Ruto, in his response over the plea by residents over a university being constructed in the area, said no one will be forcefully evicted or lose their land over the proposed expansion of the institution.

 “I can assure you that nobody will lose their land. The government you elected respects the rule of law and we shall ensure justice prevails,” he maintained. Locals had expressed concern over plans to evict them and asked the DP to intervene.

 Led by Margaret Njeri Mubuu, asked Ruto to help thwart plans by the National Land Commission (NLC) to evict them from their ancestral land  for expansion for expansion of a university

 “Our Deputy President, we have been having a problem here that is making us cry every day. The government has been planning to forcefully evict us from our ancestral land where we have buried our loved ones. Please help us stop this plan,” she said.

The elederly woman said that they only know Mutomo as their home and relocating them will result in emotional and psychological problems that may end up killing them.

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