Deputy President William Ruto, on the night of Saturday, October 26, engaged in a fiery exchange with a journalist from Nation Media after he penned a critical piece of him.
In the story published the same day with the headline, 'Ruto's Big BBI Dilemma', journalist and columnist Macharia Gaitho insinuated Ruto had no other option but to support BBI since it was Kenyatta's brainchild.
"With Kenyatta backing BBI, DP Ruto has no choice but to join the party...unless he can pull a trick out of his bag," wrote Gaitho in his piece.
In response, the DP refuted the claim revealing that he was behind President Uhuru Kenyatta's bargain on the deal.
"Dilemma? No way! Jubilee as a democratic party celebrates the diversity of opinion free of hate and focused on transformation for all; for us big or small matters but ultimately as initiators of inclusive non-tribal political discourse we will stand behind our party and (its) leader," stated Ruto.
This prompted a response from Gaitho who appreciated the DP as one of his readers pointing out that it was the first time Ruto had not branded the media as Fake News.
"Welcome my friend William Ruto, all feedback from my devoted readers is treasured.
"I appreciate that for once you did not dismiss a media report as 'fake news'. You actually affirm that on BBI you will stand behind your party and leader contrary to assumptions. Keep reading," posted Gaitho.
Ruto later claimed that he respected the media but vowed to continue calling out those that he termed as "charlatans posing as editors who are paid by mercenary brokers."
"Macharia Gaitho, that was your opinion which as a democrat I respect. But fake news is the stock in trade for charlatans posing as editors who are paid by mercenary brokers to distort facts. Those we believe in free media must continue to call them out. They are a threat to media and the truth," added Ruto.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Gaitho blamed the DP's advisors for his assaults on media for allegedly asking him to respond to everything about him in the media.
"Ruto has been having these assaults on media but I think he has been misadvised by the people he employs that everything the media writes something about him, he must respond or he must take it personally. What we do is calling truth to power.
"It is not wrong to respond but it is wrong to respond with bitterness. He is supposed to be above scrutiny. When you are in public office, you will be under scrutiny," Gaitho stated.
