Opposition chief Raila Odinga’s troops have accused President William Ruto of threatening and frustrating investors after attacking billionaire businessman Jaswant Rai.
In a scathing statement that came just a day after the President’s attack, Azimio lawmakers criticised Ruto for displaying dictatorial tendencies in his threat to send Rai "to heaven".
“It is quite disturbing to hear a whole President threatening investors in Kenya by claiming that they be arrested, deported or taken to heaven,” Senate Minority leader Stewart Madzayo said.
The Kilifi senator led his deputy Enoch Wambua (Kitui) and Eddy Oketch (Migori) in criticising the head of state over his remarks.
This even as the Law Society of Kenya and human rights defenders demanded the President’s apology over the remarks that appeared to threatened Rai.
“The demand that we want to make on the President is to not only withdraw and apologise for those very unfortunate remarks but also to allow the due process of law to take its cause to its logical conclusion," he said.
LSK, Amnesty International Kenya, Kenya Human Rights Commission and Haki Africa questioned the government's commitment to upholding the right to life and protection of persons against cruel and inhumane treatment.
The human rights group said the constitution guarantees every person the right to access courts and the right to have every dispute determined in accordance with the laws of the land.
“This is a chilling statement that constitutes a threat to the right to life, a threat to access to justice and the right to seek judicial intervention and a threat to the independence of the Judiciary,” Theuri said
Speaking in Western on Sunday, the President attacked Rai as a cartel who’s frustrating reforms in the sugar sector.
The President asked all the sugar cartels to either depart Kenya, or he sends them to jail or to heaven.
“Hawa wakora wote watoke. Hio kampuni ni ya wananchi na tutaipangia upya. Hakuna kesi tutaentertain hapo. Kesi watoe na wao wenyewe watoke,” Ruto said.
(All these cartels must leave. This company belongs to Kenyans and we will plan it a fresh. We will not entertain any case. They must withdraw those cases and leave the company)
“Wakitaka kuniletea kisirani either wahame Kenya ama nitawaweka jela ama wasafiri waende mbinguni,” he added.
(If they want to frustrate me, it is either they leave Kenya or I send them to jail or they travel to heaven).
The leaders said that the President’s remarks amount to direct threat on Rai’s life, something he termed unconstitutional and has the potential of scaring away investors.
“Does this mean that if your political views differ with the President then you risk falling short of his wrath, for example, your businesses being labelled as cartel or living in fear cause your life is being threatened” he said.
“We as Azimio condemn such utterances made by the President since this is a democratic country governed by the rule of law and the ripple effects of such sentiments cannot be overstated.”
In the attack that could trigger a fresh fight between the President and the opposition, the lawmakers to publicly apologise to the investors.
“The President was out of line in stating that Mr Rai be taken to heaven, and we all know what that means,” Madzayo said.
Rai is a billionaire businessman who has ventures in sugar and edible oil, among other industries. He’s the proprietor of Kabras and West Sugar sugar company, among others.
“The Rai family has had a long history of investments in Kenya in edible oils, sugar and other products. It has extended its dominance in the sugar sector thus the President terming him as a cartel,” he said.
“Even though Mr Rai is being accused of frustrating the revival of sugar industry, there are better ways to address this other than a President of a democratic country issuing callous threats by the roadside.”
Wambua said the President’s utterances amount to threat to national security.
“I don’t think if you do not agree with someone, then you should do so in public. There are better ways of discussing these disagreements,” he said.
