President William Ruto on Friday struck a reconciliatory tone saying political differences should not result into anarchy and empasized that demonstrations envisaged in law must be peaceful.
However, his deputy, a tough talking Rigathi Gachagua, termed the Azimio mass action as “post-election violence”.
The DP vowed there would be no political deal with the opposition despite pressure for a handshake.
Making reference to Article 37 on the right to peaceful protests, Ruto said such fundamental rights must be exercised without chaos, loss of life and property.
“Something would be very wrong with us if we agreed on everything all the time. Having competing ideas, having divergent opinions is part of what we celebrate as a democracy,” Ruto said at KICC during the induction of interns into the civil service.
“But it's my position that the Constitution did not envisage that different opinions would result in chaos, loss of property or loss of life,”
Police chiefs have declared the protests illegal and have severally warned of severe consequences, including arrest of Azimio chiefs.
But the President said Kenyans must be able to celebrate all the rights provided for in the constitution in a manner that respects the rights of others.
“... and also in a manner that “does not destroy property or in a manner that does not make children go to school”.I think we can do that. We are mature enough, to be able to do that and I hope that all of us will begin to understand where we must go,”he stated.
Speaking during the same event, Gachagua termed the Azimio protests as post election violence.
"The election was done, Supreme Court ruled and these people have brought violence. And these are not demonstrations anymore, these are post-election violence," he said.
A tough speaking Gachagua said security officers will firmly deal with law breakers, amid public outcry of excessive force on demonstrators
"Your excellency, you have given guidance to this country, this is a country of the rule of law. Let our officers protect life and property and let everybody go about his businesses without hindrance, without intimidation because this is our country," he said.
The DP vowed that there would be no political deal between Ruto and Opposition Chief Raila Odinga, saying the Constitution does not recognise such an arrangement.
“There is no constitutional provision for a handshake arrangement. Its not there. The president cannot reinstate IEBC commissioners. He doesnt have the power or authority. The president would not even know where the server [IEBC] is located, because its not his work,” he stated.
Gachagua revisited his beef with the DCI, claiming the detectives crackdown on graft under President Uhuru's administration de-motivated civil servants.
“The public service took a serious beating in terms of image. The previous administration let loose officers of the DCI to harass public servants by arresting them and extorting money from them...You Excellency, since you came to office, that has come to an end and public servants have been dignified,”he stated.
