These past few days, social media has been abuzz with reactions from Kenyans of all works of life condemning Deputy President William Ruto after he was captured on video throwing epithets at a particular community for no reason at all.
To the best of my knowledge, Kenya has no second-class citizens as this leader would have us believe.
Ruto’s unfortunate sentiments border on incitement. He should settle his beef with Raila and leave his community alone. The DP should have the courage to face Uhuru and ask him why he agreed to shake Raila’s hand.
In the video, he loudly asks why this community should be “entertained”. Ruto’s unfortunate outburst against a section of Kenya was uncalled for and should be treated with the contempt it deserves. We don’t need leaders who have chosen to rock this fragile boat called Kenya to satisfy their racism and shallow inhibitions.
Why would a leader who seeks to be the next President of Kenya in 2022 pour such contempt when his boss is busy mending the leaking boat? What is his objective?
The 2017 heavily contested election caused a lot of pain and sorrow to a section of Kenyans. Hundreds fell by the bullet targeted at peaceful demonstrators seeking justice following a bungled vote.
A section of vision less and blood-thirsty politicians thrived during the demonstrations, which led to a stagnated economy. They hoped they would use the chaos to their own advantage and propel themselves to power in 2022.
This was not to be as the rug was literally pulled from under their feet. The handshake took them by surprise as true Kenyan leaders—opposition leader Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta—became champions of peace in a hopelessly divided country.
The selfish leaders have continuously opposed the Building Bridges Initiative propped up by Raila and Uhuru in March last year.
They have briefly detoured from attacking Raila for “causing rifts and camps” in the ruling Jubilee party to dragging a whole community into the handshake shenanigans.
If Ruto cannot “entertain” other Kenyans as the DP, how can he lead them if he becomes President of the Republic of Kenya?
Politicians must desist from using public platforms to light bonfires of hate and derogate others.
Ruto’s unfortunate sentiments border on incitement. He should settle his beef with Raila and leave his community alone.
The DP should have the courage to face Uhuru and ask him why he agreed to shake Raila’s hand.