Ruto Sends Fiery Message to Police After Kondele Stoning

DP William Ruto in Busia on Saturday, October 23, 2021.
DP William Ruto in Busia on Saturday, October 23, 2021.
William Ruto Twitter

Deputy President William Ruto, in a gloves off manner, castigated the National Police Service (NPS) over their claims that the chaos during the DP's Kondele tour was due to dishing out of handouts. 

Through his Communication Secretary, David Mugonyi, the DP termed the police as careless for possessing vital intelligence regarding the chaos and did nothing to prevent it.

“The statement by the National Police Service, which carelessly profiles people in regrettable terms, underscores the fact that they had intelligence on the conspiracy to perpetrate lawlessness in broad daylight, and ample opportunity to stop it and facilitate a peaceful event, but consciously opted to engage in political mischief instead,” read part of the statement.

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Police Officers at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi on Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Kenyans.co.ke
Simon Kiragu

Further, the DP slammed the police for their claims of campaign finances being dished out to Kisumu residents. He disputed the claims, pointing out that the police should focus on their rightful job.

“At no point was there deployment of campaign finances as alleged by the police. The police should not play around with people's lives or property. Just do your job.”

Ruto noted that he was saddened by the events that unfolded as he had interacted with the Kondele residents multiple times prior. 

“The people of Nyanza, Kisumu and in particular Kondele and the Deputy President are not strangers. They have come a long way and have interacted peacefully and productively with love and mutual respect for many years.

"The reckless deployment of lawless elements to tarnish their well-earned reputation of patriotism and robust democratic commitment is unfortunate and has no place in the Kenya we want. Hustlers are peaceful people who believe in the solidarity of all Kenyans.”

The DP's allies also pointed out that the chaos witnessed was a political witch-hunt by their rivals in a bid to stop the hustler campaign- with some pointing fingers at the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) brand. 

Speaking about the incident, ODM party leader, Raila Odinga, however, disputed the claims noting that Ruto was free to tour the country as he pleases.

"I am not a small kid to organise a group of people to haul stones at the DP, for what reason? He is a small matter to me," he stated.

ODM leader Raila Odinga during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kisii on October 20, 2020.
ODM leader Raila Odinga during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kisii on October 20, 2020.
Raila Odinga Twitter