•According to the ODM leader, those opposed to the BBI report are the same forces that have often opposed change in Kenya.
•Ruto has indicated that he will oppose changes to the Constitution if recommended by the BBI report.
Image: File
DP William Ruto has attacked ODM leader Raila Odinga in vicious tweets for terming him a roadblock to reforms.
According to the ODM leader, those opposed to the BBI report are the same forces that have often opposed change in Kenya.
Ruto has indicated that he will oppose changes to the Constitution if recommended by the BBI report.
Raila said the group has no conscience, no ideals and no principles that they are ready and willing to live and even die for.
But on Saturday evening, Ruto without naming names also hit back saying that the opposition leader should stop intimidations and threats.
"The lords of tribalism and poverty who are masters/beneficiaries of political violence are very mad at the unbowed hustler movement," he said.
"Tribe has been hijacked by tribal lords/chiefs to benefit themselves and their families to the detriment of Hustlers and their children. The hustlers, as a minimum, want a new conversation."
Ruto said his movement is not about power but about empowerment.
"Not about positions for the mighty but about jobs for the ordinary. Surely, that is not too much to ask! Is it?" he posed.
The deputy president said the ODM leader was back with the BBI, threatening confrontation with anyone with an alternative/contrary opinion to theirs.
"For good record, threats, blackmail, intimidation and insults which we have been treated to for the last two years is the language of tyrants, despots and dictatorships," he said.
Ruto said they want an engagement on empowerment of the millions of hustlers not just power for the few.
"Power is about you the lords, some leaders and the few. Empowerment is about the people. Before we discuss about power and sharing amongst you few, let us agree on empowerment," he said.
"These hustlers are not thieves, they are not stupid, they are not lazy. They deserve opportunity, support, encouragement and inspiration, which they lack."
He said they wanted a discourse on real jobs for millions of Kenyans.
Tribe has been hijacked by tribal lords/chiefs to benefit themselves and their families to the detriment of Hustlers and their children. And ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. The HUSTLERS, as a minimum, want a NEW conversation. Not about anyone's tribe BUT about the HUSTLES of each one of us.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) September 26, 2020
For your information 16 million Kenyans, majority of them below 35 years are jobless Hustlers. The Jubilee government’s Housing Programme can create 2.5 million jobs. NOW, forget the sterile 'employment-creation blah!blah!blah!' rhetoric that has been sang since independence.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) September 26, 2020
"Are you telling us that the creation of five lofty positions for the mighty by BBI is more urgent than the implementation of the Housing Programme that would create 2.5 million jobs for ordinary Kenyans? " he posed.
On Friday, Raila revealed that the BBI report will soon be unveiled and promised a ruthless political battle against those opposed to the initiative.
Raila said the voices of impunity that thrive on corruption and outright lies have already lined up against the report.
Raila urged ODM officials to get ready to take the battle to a group he described as “anti-reform elements”, whom he said are lining up to stop the nation from moving forward. He spoke in Machakos during an ODM National Executive Committee meeting.