•Jubilee secretary general Jeremiah Kioni said Ruto and his allies from the Mt Kenya region have resorted to insults that could trigger violence.
•Kioni said the recent attack on Mama Ngina Kenyatta by a deputy president ally based in the United State was well choreographed to trigger violence and demonstrations.
Image: Amos Njau
The Kikuyu Council of Elders has accused Deputy President William Ruto of disrespecting President Uhuru Kenyatta in his backyard.
Council patron Kinyua wa Mwangi said Ruto is radicalising the youths from Mt Kenya with his hustler narrative.
He said the hustler movement and incitement isn’t popularised in Rift valley but only popular in Mt Kenya.
“We are not fools, his hunger for power is worrying and we will not allow our children to be subjected to hustler movement cult,” he said.
The elders spoke on Wednesday when they held a press conference at their offices to condemn the recent attack on Mama Ngina Kenyatta.
Among those who attended include Jubilee secretary general Jeremiah Kioni, former Molo MP Njenga Muigai, Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant Agnes Kagure, officials from Kiama Kiama and Kikuyu Council of Elders.
Kioni said Ruto and his allies from the Mt Kenya region have resorted to insults that could trigger violence.
Kioni said the recent attack on Mama Ngina Kenyatta by a Ruo ally based in the United States was well choreographed to trigger violence and demonstrations.
“We know their tricks and the insults are planned at Karen and they are aimed to charge the Kikuyu community against each other,” Kioni said.
Kikuyu Council of Elders national chairman Wachira Kiago refuted claims that at the recent State hHouse meeting, President Uhuru Kenyatta said Ruto plotted his impeachment.
Wachira said the elders had visited State House to discuss the affairs of his people in the Mt Kenya region.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta never mentioned William Ruto in his speech and media was used to spread the propaganda which should be condemned,” Wachira said.
He said they discussed how they will reach out to former Jubilee members who are supporting DP William Ruto.
Wachira said they will not allow Ruto to escalate his incitement, especially toward the leaders from the region.
He said Mt Kenya leaders will retreat to the grassroots level and tell the community that Ruto's mission is to divide and rule.
“We will not tolerate any acts or utterances that could lead to bloodshed and destruction of life and property. We urge Ruto to stop his political theatrics and face the situation on the ground,” he said.
Former Molo MP Njenga Muigai said the attack on Mama Ngina Kenyatta has never been witnessed even during the electioneering period.
He said Ruto's altitude shows someone who is desperate for power and should not be allowed.
He said that Mt Kenya elders will use their small groups to reach out to women and youth who seem radicalised by Ruto and talk to them about the importance of the Agikuyu community coming together.
“If attacking our mothers isn’t incitement, tell me what it is, the deputy president is already cursed and we can’t allow him to take over from Uhuru Kenyatta,” Njenga said.
He urged the elders and political leaders present to mobilise their supporters to vote for Odinga who is the best suited to take over.
Kikuyu council of elders organising secretary Jeff Maina said Ruto is unfit for leadership.
He said Ruto's character is not presidential and urged Kenyans not to gamble with the future of the country by electing him.
“He is holding grudges with anyone who is opposing his presidential bid and he might revenge,” he said.
He said Ruto is trying to weaken the Jubilee party by claiming its dead to ensure Mt Kenya does not have a voice in the political discourse after the election.
He alleged that William Ruto in 2017, bungled the Jubilee primaries to ensure his (Uhuru’s) loyalists were out and replaced by Ruto’s lackeys.
Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant Anne Kagure who was named as the patron of Kikuyu women during a statehouse meeting said the region is fully behind President Uhuru Kenyatta.
She denied that Ruto controls the region and Kenyans are awaiting the voting day and supporting Odinga.
She said she has initiated a movement dubbed operation Rundi nyumbani (welcome back home) to leaders supporting William Ruto.
Kagure said she is optimistic that the party will have more members in the national assembly, senate, and County assemblies.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris