Ruto's Secret Plan to Cause Chaos at BBI Rally - ODM

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders in a press conference on Friday, January 24 claimed that there was a plan by Deputy President William Ruto to cause chaos at the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) rally scheduled for Saturday, January 25 at Mombasa's Tononoka Grounds.

Led by Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, the group claimed that the deputy president was behind a new strategy to create an impression that they were not welcome at the BBI events by causing disruptions. He alluded to the storming of Ruto-allied MP Aisha Jumwa's live press conference by goons on Friday morning as part of the plan.

"We have accurate information and intelligence that the DP and his group have adopted a strategy to come to Tononoka to cause chaos and it has actually begun in Mombasa this morning, through provocations and they use that as an excuse to state that the BBI forum is not open to Kenyans and it has a hidden agenda as well as practising exclusion.

"This strategy will not work as we wish to inform the DP that our people are ready," Amisi asserted.

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi addressing a past press conference at Parliament buildings

The lawmaker maintained that ODM would hold the deputy president liable for any damages, chaos or losses at the Tononoka event.

"Let the DP and his people be on notice that we will hold them accountable for any chaos, losses or interruptions made on this occasion tomorrow," he stated.

Amisi further informed Ruto that he could hold his own nationwide BBI forums if he was unable to attend the upcoming rallies without disrupting them.

"We want to give him free advice that the BBI Taskforce has publicly indicated that it will have several forums and avenues through which to engage the public and any other stakeholders which includes the DP and his Jubilee wing.

"The deputy president is accordingly advised that if he cannot keep peace and maintain decorum, he is at liberty to draw up his nationwide BBI schedule, supply it to the BBI Taskforce and hold his own parallel meetings," the lawmaker asserted.

Ruto's allies had on Tuesday, January 21 announced that they would be joining the BBI rallies in a sharp u-turn, given the camp's past criticism of the meetings as a waste of public funds and opposition campaign rallies for the 2022 General Election.

Speaking in Embakasi West on Thursday, January 23, Ruto reiterated his desire for the BBI process to be people-centred instead of politicians controlling the initiative.

"In that BBI, we want every citizen to be given an opportunity to contribute their views. That is why we are asking Haji and his committee to create a program so that the mama mboga (grocery vendor), makanga (tout), boda boda (motorcycle rider) also gives their views.

"And to the politicians like myself and others, let us not hijack the BBI and make it about politicians, positions and power. We want BBI to talk about that jobless person here. How will his problems be solved?" Ruto told the crowd.

Deputy President William Ruto addresses a crowd in Embakasi West constituency on Thursday, January 23