DEPUTY President William Ruto is alleged to have skipped the Second Devolution Conference closure event in Kisumu to “avoid humiliation.”
The DP who was said to be in Congo on Thursday was slotted to preside over the close of the four-day forum. He was represented by Devolution PS Mwanamaka Amani who read his speech.
Organisers had to roll up the red carpet prepared for Ruto when he failed to turn up. The Star has established negative intelligence reports about Ruto’s reception in Kisumu made him cancel the trip.
On Tuesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta received warm welcome when he opened the conference. A source close to Ruto and who requested anonymity, said he opted to extend his Congo visit so he could skip the conference.
The source said intelligence reports indicated Kisumu residents were unhappy about the Ruto's attacks on Cord leader Raila Odinga.
Another source, said the Ruto reached out on him to find out “about the situation” on the ground. “I told him all was not well and I think that made him change of his programme,” said the source.
Yesterday, Kisumu ODM Chairman Dave Okwach asked Ruto to tone down his attacks on Raila.
“He was lucky to have cancelled his visit because the ground is so hostile with him, he would not have received the warm welcome accorded to the President on Tuesday,” Okwach said.
DEPUTY President William Ruto allegedly skipped the closure of the second devolution conference in Kisumu to “avoid humiliation.”
The DP who was reportedly in Congo on Thursday when the conference concluded was supposed to preside over its closure.
However, he was represented by Devolution principle Secretary Mwanamaka Amani who read his speech.
Organizers were forced to rollup the red carpet that had been prepared for the DP when they got information that Ruto would not attend the function.
The Star has established that negative intelligence reports about Ruto’s reception in Kisumu made him cancel the trip.
Unlike the positive reception President Uhuru Kenyatta was accorded on Tuesday when he opened the conference, reports indicated his Deputy “would be humiliated within and without the conference” in Kisumu.
An impeccable source privy to the DP’s operations and who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal confided to The Star that the DP opted to extend his Congo visit so that he would skip the Governor’s conference.
“There was security concerns that he would be humiliated in Kisumu and at the conference because of a number of issue some political while some based on his stand on devolution,” said the source.
His (Ruto’s) differences with the chairman of the Governor’s council and Bomet Governor Isaack Rutto also prompted his cancellation of the visit, added the source.
The source disclosed that according to the intelligence reports, Kisumu residents were also unhappy about the DP’s constant attacks on Cord leader Raila Odinga.
Another source, a Jubilee operative disclosed that the DP reached out on him to find out “about the situation” in Kisumu.
“I told him on the phone that all was not well for him and I think that led to the change of his programme,” added the source.
Yesterday, Kisumu County ODM Chairman Dave Okwach challenged the DP to tone down on his attacks on Raila “if at all he wants to earn respect from his (Raila’s) people.
“He was lucky to have cancelled his visit because the ground is so hostile with him, he would not have received the ward welcome accorded to the President on Tuesday,” Okwach said.
Nyalenda A Ward representative Jackton Onunga accused the DP of being anti-devolution.
“He has also engaged in tyrant politics and continued with attacks against Raila and all these are not welcome by the people who support devolution and who treat Raila with a lot of respect,” Onunga said.
Onunga also pointed out that the DP’s attacks on Bomet Governor Isaack Ruto and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi may have made him uncomfortable to share a platform with them during the conference in Kisumu.
Lawyer and ODM enthusiast Shabban Kassim said Ruto would not have received warm reception in Kisumu because of his criticism against Raila.
“Unlike Ruto, the President has perfected the politics of maturity and never does he attack fellow leaders. He had to receive a warm welcome because of how he has handled Raila,” Kassim said.
Businessman and former Kisumu West Parliamentary aspirant Kennedy Onyango said; "He (Ruto) feared due to his stand on devolution and spat with Isaack Ruto but I would urge him to be careful and avoid attacks on Raila to appeal to our people."
He added; "We have however not forgotten the warrior role he played for Raila in 2007."
