Ruto tells off Raila over Kibra poll violence
Deputy President William Ruto on Friday scoffed at Opposition Chief Raila Odinga over claims that the ruling Jubilee Party was responsible for violence during the Kibra by-election.
Ruto alleged that the ODM party planted a militia to cause trouble in the mini-poll that saw ODM candidate Imran Okoth emerge victoriously.
He spoke during a thanksgiving ceremony for the Jubilee candidate in the by-election MacDonald Mariga.
Ruto said despite the violence, Jubilee proved that Kibra was no longer ODM’s political bedroom as it had earlier been claimed.
“The days of violence are behind us, they should be mature enough and be ready to face us come 2022 without causing trouble,” he said.
The DP condemned Dagorreti North MP Simba Arati for attacking his Kimilili counterpart Didmus Barasa at DC grounds on the day of the by-election.
In a harsh admonition, Ruto, described Arati as an “idiot” who he claimed has no capacity to even lead a village.
“You must renounce village politics. You can’t hide behind the BBI and the Handshake to bring such violence,” he said.
He also promised that the Jubilee administration would continue to monitor Kibra by injecting more development there.
Jubilee MPs who accompanied Ruto condemned the Kibra violence and urged the government to dismantle all gangs used by politicians.
They said the groups pose a danger to the development of the country besides staining the democratic gains in Kenya.
In particular, they noted that the increased use of such criminal outfits to cause violence during elections was denying Kenyans their political freedom.
Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa said politicians have the cardinal role of safeguarding the rule of law.
“We must not glorify and sanitise violence; if you think you will use violence to influence election results then that is not the Handshake that Kenyans want,” he observed.
National Assembly Leader of Majority Aden Duale said that Jubilee Party would only support the BBI report if its recommendations would benefit Kenyans.
“ We are eagerly waiting for the report, if it will benefit Kenyans I will mobilize MPs to rally behind it”, he said.
