DP Ruto's Message While Welcoming Raila to His Camp

Deputy President William Ruto speaking on Inooro TV in August 2021
Deputy President William Ruto speaking on Inooro TV in August 2021
Citizen Digital

The Deputy President of Kenya, Dr. William Ruto has extended an invitation to his political rival, ODM chief Raila Odinga, in a tweet directed to the former Premier on July 14, 2021.

The tweet Stated “My friend Tinga, welcome to Hustler movement. The conversation here is about the economy, not ethnicity, empowerment, not power, jobs not positions, creating opportunity/ wealth not sharing, Citizens not leaders by changing policy not the constitution to bottom-up, not top-down economics” 

The tweet was a reaction by the Deputy President to the headline of a local daily on July 14, 2021.

a
ODM's Communication Director Philip Etale addresses a gathering at a conference in February 2020
File

Speaking Kenyans.co.ke, Director of Communications at ODM, Philip Etale dismissed the message. He stated that the ODM party does not care about what Ruto tweets or says.

He added that it is Raila Odinga that should be welcoming the Ruto for a discourse on matters of national interest as he is better placed to advise Ruto.

He further stated that Ruto does not follow his own rhetoric about empowering hustlers. This was a pointed jibe at the printing of UDA kits in Dubai.

Philip Etale expressed that Ruto should focus on the Kiambaa by-elections and leave matters regarding his party leader alone.

He further dismissed the "Bottom-Up" approach being advocated by the Deputy President to Kenyans. Etale noted that Ruto did not gain his wealth through a bottom-up approach, but by wining and dining with prominent people as far back as in former President Moi's era.

Philip Etale had on July 14, 2021 dismissed the Bottom-Up approach by the Deputy President in a tweet.

The tweet stated; “Bottom-up economic model is a fallacy! Where is TangaTanga leader coming from when executing that model? Is he from the bottom or up? Let us save our people from this fallacy.

Raila Odinga and William Ruto have not seen eye-to-eye on matters of political ideologies. The two leaders continue trading insults and accusations at different functions country-wide.

Raila Odinga
Raila Odinga during an interview.
The Standard