For the better part of 2019, Deputy President William Ruto, in a classic Donald Trump fashion, took to the social media platform, Twitter, to call out local news publications for what he perceived to be fake news against him.
On September 8, the Daily Nation published an article stating that the DP "had sought the comfort of Twitter in an attempt to fight mainstream media through social media sites".
The publication likened the DP's strategy to that of US President Donald Trump who throughout his term has consistently landed hard tackles on the mainstream media via Twitter and ferociously attacked anyone who dared disagree with him.
For Kenyans who follow DP Ruto on social media, you are definitely no stranger to the several screenshots of Newspaper front pages the DP has posted labelling them fake news.
Here are some of the instances when the DP has called out local dailies for the stories and opinions they have put published.
The November 7, 2019, Kibra mini poll
An opinion piece by veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho titled "Ruto needs a chill pill, his Twitter tirades show a man feeling the pain' that was published by Daily Nation on November 19, highlighted a theme in DP's tweets following McDonald Mariga's loss in the Kibra by-election.
Ruto clapped back at Gaitho calling him out for what he described as inaccurate content.
"Gaitho, your piece though inaccurate is an attempted fair comment. In Kibra, we doubled our %vote and used the opportunity to call out the lords of violence. In Sagana, Jubilee's democratic credentials were affirmed. Headlines are paid for, stories planted and span. Twitter is the remedy,' Ruto responded on Twitter.
The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report
Prior to and after the release of the BBI report on November 27, DP Ruto resolved to Twitter on several occasions to call out local dailies for the various news features that highlighted his stand on the report.
On October 18, People Daily did a story titled 'Uhuru and Ruto now headed for clash over BBI' which highlighted the disparity in opinion between the Kieleweke and Tanga Tanga political factions.
DP Ruto, however, rubbished the publication as false.
"Nonsense. The politics of personality cults that breed negative ethnicity and division as it poisons our nation are primitive and beneath us. We will agree as Jubilee established as a national movement which elevates our discourse to the realm of ideas and issues and not personality," Ruto argued.
A similar story by the headline 'BBI sets up Ruto clash with Uhuru and Raila' was published by the Standard and equally attracted backlash from the DP.
"Usual Standard gutter FAKE news. Where did WsR [William Samoei Ruto] utter such nonsense? Kenyans should look forward to a robust, truthful national conversation to chart a unified way forward. Meanwhile, ignore Standard's garbage," the DP lashed out.
In another article titled 'When old friends become enemies', the Standard highlighted an apparent rift that had been created by the BBI between Ruto's camp and Raila's camp.
"Enemy NOWAY? Good people, I have no enemies because there is no need for baggage. Competitors yes !! That's the richness of democracy we should celebrate," Ruto stated.
Raising the debt ceiling to Ksh9 trillion
On November 5, the Senate voted to raise the country's borrowing cap up from Ksh6 trillion to Ksh9 trillion as reported by Citizen Digital.
The debate leading up to the vote to pass the motion to raise the debt ceiling was evidenced the apparent political divide between the leadership in support of the DP and Raila. Legislators allied to Ruto had reportedly vowed to knock down the motion.
On November 1, Daily Nation's front page read, 'Uhuru Ruto fight for control of parliament', a headline that again rattled the DP.
"Obvious usual sponsored fakes by those petrified by Jubilee unity, who want to engage us in pettiness (mkeka/choo-type) of yore. Senators should ignore this nonsense. The President and I are focused on big4 and transformation. No amount of provocation will derail us or shake Jubilee," Ruto retorted.
The Sagana State Lodge meeting
On November 15, President Uhuru Kenyatta convened a meeting at the Sagana State lodge with all leaders from the Mount Kenya region.
The meeting sparked debates of the rift within the Jubilee party as reported by Citizen Digital.
On November 17, the Daily Nation ran an article with the headline 'Inside plot to wrest Jubilee from Uhuru' that suggested a sour relationship existed between leaders from Mount Kenya allied to Ruto and President Uhuru.
The publication brought out the allegiance of Mt Kenya leaders to Ruto as a plot by the DP to seize control of the Jubilee party. Again attracting backlash from the DP.
"Detractors rattled by Jubilee emerging united/strong post-Sagana are, in collabo with usual brown envelope journalists, back to the drawing board to continue their never-ending scheme to stumble us. The words of Matt.18vs6 await you if you succeed in your ungodly mission. Tunawaombea," Ruto stated.
Joseph Murumbi land row
On October 3, news headlines were dominated by reports that the DP had been drawn into a row pertaining to his acquisition of a 900-acre land that was initially allocated to former vice president Joseph Murumbi.
On the day, the Daily Nation newspaper found itself once again on the receiving end of DP Ruto's wrath for its coverage of the case that was the top story by the publication.
"The now persistent, obviously sponsored FAKE NEWS by hired bankrupt media that finds it difficult to make a sale without the name Ruto. Bure kabisa. Riswa!" Ruto stated.
