According to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, at no point will Kenya experience post-election ferocity similar to the one that happened in 2007/2008.
In a statement on his X account on Saturday, May 17, the DP emphasised that the nation experienced a 'painful lesson' 17 years ago and is determined to ensure that such events do not recur during the 2027 general elections or any future elections.
"Kenya will never return to political barbarity. Not in 2027, not at any other time in the future. Our country learnt hard and painful lessons from 2007/2008 events. Never again," Kindiki wrote.
The DP stated that currently, Kenyans are more interested in leaders who project better ideas to elevate and transform the country.
Kindiki, who was seemingly referring to the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, branded leaders who claim that there will be a recurrence of such events as 'desperate, vengeful, thoughtless and pretentious leaders'.
"Henceforth, Kenya’s leadership contests will revolve around who has better ideas to transform the country. The debate cannot be about the fear-mongering of desperate, vengeful, thoughtless, and pretentious leaders," Kindiki said.
The statement by Kindiki comes a day after Gachagua, who spoke during an interview on Obinna TV on Friday, May 16, warned that if not conducted diligently, the 2027 general polls would midwife a post-election ferocity similar to the 2007/2008 or even worse.
"With the mood in the country, if that IEBC tries to mess with the elections, there will be no country here. I want to tell you that 2007 will look like a Christmas party," Gachagua asserted.
"I want to tell those commissioners to be Kenyans and to be patriotic and not to attempt to force William Ruto on the people of Kenya. It will not work. The people of Kenya will not accept it, people want change, and they are ready for change," he added.
Following his remarks, several leaders have come out to castigate the former DP, some, including the Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi, labelling them as 'careless' and 'reckless'.
Sudi, in a video he shared by the lawmaker on Saturday, May 17, claimed that Gachagua should be mindful of his remarks, further emphasising that the former DP should not misuse his freedom of expression.
"Please, do not talk about 2007/2008, it seems you do not know what you are saying. Our people suffered what has never been witnessed," Sudi insisted.
"Ask for votes, criticise all government officials, but do not engage in 2007/2008 conversation. You are becoming too reckless, you are not a leader. That is why you are a half-term DP," he added.
