Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday, February 8, responded to comments made by the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General, Francis Atwoli, during the official launch of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Mombasa.
In a statement released by Hussein Mohamed, Ruto's Presidential Campaign Director of Communication, the DP was not amused by Atwoli's remarks who suggested that he would commit suicide if he lost the August 9 polls.
While addressing the crowd, and in the presence of President Uhuru Kenyatta, the COTU boss called for the people in Sugoi to cut down trees to 'stop the Second in Command from hanging himself after losing the elections.'
"The remarks by their ‘ancient campaign expert’ Francis Atwoli, are completely unnecessary and go against the tenets of democracy. For Kenyans inflicted with violence and death including in the context of elections, this is not a laughing matter," read the statement in part.
The DP termed the comments by Atwoli as reckless, given that they were made at a time when there has been a spike in the number of suicide cases in the country caused by a breakdown of social and economic factors.
"The Kenyan government through the DCI has decried the increasing number of suicide cases in the country. A KNCHR report further linked the rise in cases to mental illness caused by a breakdown of socioeconomic safeguards," read the statement in part.
He further called out his boss, the President and other senior government officials for finding the comment comical, noting that it was a blatant display of their ignorance of the predicaments that the ordinary Kenyan faces.
"To use suicide as humor in electioneering, at a national health function attended by the Health Cabinet Secretary and presided by the Head of State and consequently finding it funny, is a demonstration of just how far these elite are from the realities and struggles of the Kenyan Hustler," he added.
Ruto added that unlike members of the Azimio la Umoja faction, in which he roped in his boss, took elections as a matter of life and death. He noted that winning and losing were part of the election process.
He noted that unlike the Azimio la Umoja Patriarch, and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Raila Odinga, he will concede defeat if he loses the election.
"The UDA Party leader William Ruto is confident of a win in the 2022 Presidential election William Ruto has challenged and is unequivocally challenging his competitors once again to commit that they will not cause violence after losing the August 2022 presidential contest," read the statement.
