Deputy President William Ruto allies furious over aborted visit
Hillary Mageka and Wangari Njuguna
MPs allied to Deputy President William Ruto have castigated the State for blocking the country’s second in command from travelling to Uganda; in what they have termed as continuous provocations of the Hustler nation.
On Monday, DP Ruto, accompanied by a team of politicians and business people, was set for a one-day private visit to honour an invitation by some unnamed business moguls in Uganda.
The second-in-command was made to wait for more than four hours for clearance from “above” at the airport’s VIP lounge to no avail.
This was to be his second trip to the neighbouring country in less than a month.
Taking to their social media accounts yesterday, Ruto’s allies took their frustrations to the doorsteps of President Uhuru Kenyatta, accusing him of attempting to control the freedom of movement of Kenyans.
“President Uhuru is breaching the very Constitution of Kenya 2010 that he swore to defend,” Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale said adding that it started with exiled lawyer Miguna Miguna now it is Ruto.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen wondered why DP Ruto could need any clearance to travel out of the country yet he had not been asked to do before.
“There is NO law or regulation requiring him (DP Ruto) to seek clearance before travel for any public or private engagement.
What happened today is a sheer act of impunity and gross violation of the Constitution,” Senator Murkomen wrote on twitter.
Many schemes
Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot said blocking the second in command from travelling to Uganda is one of the many schemes by a cabal of individuals in government to precipitate chaos and thus present grounds for extension of the term of office.
Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika said in his nine years as the DP, Ruto has never required clearance to travel.
“Why now? You can keep on humiliating him but remember power is transient, and a year from now you will be on your way out and the people of Kenya will decide their destiny without your input!” Wrote Senator Kihika.
“There is no law that requires the DP be cleared at the airport. They are afraid of his movement both eternally and externally,” Kandara MP Alice Wahome said.
Former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama urged law enforcers to respect t human dignity and desist from acting like state militia.
“The unfortunate incident of blocking the DP from visiting Uganda for private business is barbaric and an act of dictatorship,” he said.
