Deputy President William Ruto's Saturday, March 7, outburst during the burial of Sergeant Kipyegon Kenei in Nakuru has elicited unlikely unity among Kenyan leaders.
In his speech, an angry DP claimed that Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti was being used to undermine his office and dared unnamed people to kill him vowing never to ditch his political ambitions.
His raw emotion seemingly resonated with public figures who generally seem not to share similar sentiments especially on matters relating to DP Ruto.
Ruto's allies, Soy MP Caleb Kositany and his Kipsaret counterpart Oscar Sudi, claimed that the DP's life was in danger urging President Uhuru Kenyatta to step in and possibly order an inquest into the situation.
"Your excellency president Uhuru Kenyatta, your deputy has spoken, when do you intend to speak on this serious matter?" Stated Kositany.
"Uhuru Kenyatta, if anything happens to William Ruto... We are not stupid," Sudi wrote.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the aftermath of the outburst and calls for the resignation of DP Ruto stated that the tragedy had reached a 'decisive' stage.
"We are entering a dangerous but decisive phase of this tragedy. The mercenaries have dug in and are daring for a fight. I believe we should determine the time, terms and conditions of engagement," Raila replied to Kenyans.co.k
Odinga's tweet attracted leaders from across the divide from lawyers, to politicians who weighed in on the cryptic message.
"I have always insisted that its the ethnicists and their barons who decide when Kenya should be in war or peace. Kenyans should deny the barons both options going forward," former CJ Willy Mutunga interpreted.
"Very interesting...the takeaway words.."dangerous but decisive phase", "this tragedy", "mercenaries..daring...fight", "time, terms, conditions of engagement"...Baba is a General...that is why he uses military jargon that are Napoleonic and Leninist...and stalinist.
"In the Rashid Echesa saga, note the whites involved weren't murdered, the Luo "generals" weren't murdered, the Luhya involved was spared. Only a Kalenjin sergeant was killed. Kenyans aren't idiots. Isn't it obvious that the killers wanted to create nexus btw the murder and DP Ruto?," argued lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi.
Economist David Ndii, a critic of the President Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee administration made stratling cliams against the DCi, appearing to side with Ruto.
"DCI knew Echesa was going to Ruto’s office. They were waiting for him. It stands to reason the whole thing was a DCI operation and the Harambee Annex security officers were cooperating with their DCI colleagues on orders from their superiors.
"I am stating categorically that DCI was tasked to plant an arms scandal on Ruto the same way Andrew Muthemba was used to plant one on Njonjo. After two years of bungled cases, weaponizing anti-corruption has failed. Time to escalate. Desperate times, desperate measures," Ndii stated.
Nyali MP Mohammed Ali, aka Moha Jicho Pevu, accused DCI Kinoti of being a part of the rogue system that allegedly targeted to bring down the DP
"Not all detectives are the same-some play bad cop. Kinoti is playing one courtesy of the rogue system. My advice to him, follow the clues of investigation to breakthrough. What you are doing now is zero work.
"To my friend, DP William Ruto avoid choppers, have additional security, be very careful with your food and drinks, keep an eye on all your cars, go slow in phone communication and if possible carry your own seat to your functions," adviced Ali.
Miguna, on the other hand, concluded that, based on what was happening to the DP, he held that position as a name and had no powers.
"Ruto is only a deputy President in name. He has no power to appoint, promote, order or transfer Police officers - even the ones guarding him, his offices and homes," shared Miguna.
Below is the video of Ruto's speech during Kenei's burial:
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