When President Uhuru Kenyatta dismissed claims that political dynasties were planning to cling on to power beyond 2022, through the much anticipated Building Bridges Initiative referendum, little did he suspect that his remarks were about to evoke furious online reactions.
Speaking on Thursday at the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi, during the commemoration of the 41st anniversary of the country’s founding father Mzee Kenyatta, Uhuru warned against politics of dynasties noting that leadership was not about where one is born but rather what they have to offer the country.
“You know when you hear people out there, you know, they talk, ‘Oh, this person, dynasty this, oh dynasty this’…it is not about that. Leadership is not about where you were born, it is not about where you came from” stated Uhuru.
However, his sentiments were interpreted by many as an indirect attack on DP William Ruto’s camp, attracting mixed reactions online.
Some accused the president of using the dynasty talk as a scapegoat in order to distance himself from the fact that his government had failed to deliver on its manifesto.
Here are some of the reactions from Facebook and Twitter;
Politicians always deny the obvious so that they can buy loyalty and confuse the locals.Have you ever heard a politician agree with what has been observed about their actions?No.
Even the one who went to Naivasha instead of parliament…— The Shepherd. (@Rev09967646) August 23, 2019
Uhuru: handshake is not about dynasties
Kenya: utaambia mama yako.#Kenya #VoteForRuto— vinnie mithika (@MwendaVincent2) August 23, 2019
“A family that owns almost 1/3 of Kenya’s land, has shares in almost every company, killed KCC to promote brookside, and now influences the political system to suit their family needs. Maybe we don’t know the definition of dynasties,” Caleb Rono noted on Facebook.
“President distant himself from the fact that the two have failed to deliver their manifesto. The fact remains that you are failures. The companies are retrenching (creation of jobs failed), the economy is performing poorly every day it goes down at a certain percentage( improving economy by double digits), corruption escalating, the series continues,,, Meanwhile to my county to debate on punguza mizigo stuff,” Kiprotich Emmanuel noted.
Seems like people have better perception. The president is not right – like denying ever eaten carrots while carrots are in the mouth. It’s never about competencies/abilities/aptitude at the top out there in the country – never.
— Tadeo Paneta (@fenixinix) August 23, 2019
“BBI is building bridges that connect Odinga, Moi and Kenyatta’s families nothing more – how is that important to common mwananchi , We shall say no to conmanship. You can not tell us about BBI and spending Billions when IDPs are still suffering in camps, the best way to preach peace to settle post-election IDPs and connect common mwananchi . You guys can use all languages, all means but Kenyans already know what you guys are up to. Be genuine and sincere , let’s not play with kenyan tax payer,” Jacktone Ambole stated.
“Mr President we know better. Your family, moi and the odingas have come together. Ruto who doesn’t have a family to talk about is left on his own. My friend round hii wacha tujaribu hustler. To hell with the dynasty,” Peter Mungai Githuka observed on Facebook.
I know it is true
— OmwamiAyongo@OmwamiAyongo (@OmwamiA) August 22, 2019