Deputy President William Ruto is famous for cracking up jokes and buoying up the crowd. Normally, he would quote one verse of the bible, even if it is a non-existent one, just to put a smile on the face of the audience.
On Wednesday, November 27, at the Bomas of Kenya, while President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the Building Bridges Initiative, all eyes were focused on Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator, Kipchumba Murkomen. The two were booed by the audience as the latter lashed out.
A few people only, noticed that Ruto had cut a forlorn figure as his allies were under siege and read malice in the Bomas programme.
Ruto rarely indulged in petty conversations that were synonymous between Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga. While clapping his hands, he did it casually, without enthusiasm.
He later tried cheering up the crowd when he asked not to speak in Swahili, however, it was vividly clear that he was perturbed.
"We must have an honest discussion, even the way Junet you are running the program, we must have an honest discussion about it. Your Excellency, it would be a lie for me to leave this stage without saying that this program has been skewed to leave out people with different opinions," Murkomen burst out.
When Murang'a Woman Representative, Sabina Chege, a Team Embrace leader made a declaration that the women splinter groups would be scrapped off, Kandara MP Alice Wahome, a Ruto ally retaliated on Facebook, differing with Chege.
Ruto, however, played coy with all the debate as he focused on praising Uhuru Kenyatta for initiating the handshake and the BBI.
"The process must not address the divide between the politicians only, it must also address the huge divide between the haves and the have nots, employed and unemployed," Ruto urged.
On Thursday, November 28, Malindi MP, Aisha Jumwa also tore into President Uhuru Kenyatta and the BBI project, in a statement sent to Kenyans.co.ke.
"I think we are done with this monster called BBI, Kenyatta can now tell us something else that will add value to our livelihood," Jumwa stated.
Classic 105 FM Radio host Maina Kageni of Maina and King'ang'i also noted that Ruto was distraught during the launch.
"He was so angry. Visibly angry. Yet everyone was watching Murkomen," Kageni stated while debating with his co-host Daniel Ndambuki, alias Churchill.
While speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale blasted the organiser of the event, claiming that they were out to frustrate DP Ruto.
"It is a mark of serious impunity to have Ruto invite Odinga. How also can you have an ODM leader as a master of ceremony in a national event? Everyone who spoke, excluding Murkomen, was an ally of Odinga, (Hassan Joho, Francis Atwoli, Sabina Chege). It was choreographed.
"They should have let some people allied to Ruto speak I want to laud Murkomen for standing the ground. Ruto also rose above the pertinence of the intentions of those people. He remained calm. When asked to speak third last, he did obediently and gave a National reconciliatory speech meant to drive the process forward," Khalwlale opined.
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