President William Ruto on Wednesday signalled an escalation of personalised attacks and counter-attacks with opposition figures, saying he was ready to “roll in the mud” with his critics.
Ruto on Tuesday traded barbs with opposition leaders led by his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua in what is now becoming a high-stakes political combat.
Speaking during numerous stops in Busia County on Wednesday, the Head of State vowed he would not shy away from confronting his detractors head-on.
He accused opposition figures of inviting him to the
personal attacks that have now snowballed into a bitter exchange.
Ruto at the same time, reiterated his administration’s
commitment to delivering on its development agenda, insisting that political
distractions would not derail his government's priorities.
“When our competitors rise to engage on issues, we shall
meet them there with clarity and reason. But when they descend into insults and
distraction, we shall not lose focus; we will dedicate only one per cent of our
time to respond to them,” the President said.
“The remaining 99 per cent of our time is reserved for what
truly matters: serving Kenyans.”
The remarks come against the backdrop of heightened
political exchanges, with both sides trading barbs touching on each other's health and lifestyles.
The verbal combat exploded on Tuesday during the Western tour after Ruto fired back at his rivals in a dramatic shift from policy debates
to sharp personal attacks.
The war of words was first ignited by Gachagua, who took a swipe at the President’s apparent loss of weight during
a public address.
Ruto hit back with pointed remarks,
dismissing his critics and accusing the
unnamed leaders of ‘impregnating’
young girls.
He also accused some
unspecified critic of disinheriting the
family of his late brother.
“How can a person who manipulated the will of his brother to disinherit
widows and orphans give us lectures?
Ruto posed.
President also challenged
some opposition leaders to go to the gym, stay fit and "avoid overeating".
In Busia, Ruto claimed the opposition resorted to sustained
verbal assaults aimed at undermining his administration, forcing him to push
back.
“They started the insults. I am only responding,” he said.
Already, there are fears that Ruto’s readiness to engage in
direct verbal combat with opponents could set the stage for a potentially
bruising political contest that may come with a huge cost to the country.
Amnesty International Programs Director Victor Ndede
cautioned the country risks being more polarised as top politicians go personal
in public.
“What has happened in the last two days, you cannot then say
that that would be a symbol of national unity. It polarises the country. It
polarises individuals. It polarises certain ethnic communities,” Ndede said.
“Knowing how much we are far divided politically, those
statements coming from political leadership as high as the president really
serve against the good gains that we have wanted to make in Chapter Six of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity.”
Speaking in Nairobi, Linda Mwananchi team led by Nairobi Senator
Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Governor James Orengo also condemned the exchanges terming them ‘unpresidential’.
“We did expect something like what we saw on
Tuesday coming from the level of presidency,” Embakasi East MP Babu Owino said.
Orengo and Vihiga Senator Godfrey
Osotsi termed the President’s utterances unfortunate and demeaning to his office.
“I want to remind the President that he took an oath; some
of the utterances do not portray the President of the Republic of Kenya,” Osotsi
said.
Orengo said Ruto must be ‘called to order’ terming his utterances
enough grounds for impeachment.
“State officers, including the
President, must conduct themselves in a manner that brings honour to the
presidency and the nation,” Orengo stated.
Addressing the residents of Busia, the President said he is ready to take on the united opposition vowing to hand them an embarrassing
poll defeat in 2027
“The other team have no plans, vision, they have nothing,
their main agenda is William Ruto. I told them if Ruto is their only agenda
then I am ready,” Ruto stated. “I will defeat them in the morning.”
Ruto was on day three of his Western tour, which has seen him
visit Bungoma, Kakamega and Busia counties.
He was accompanied by Busia Governor Paul Otuoma, National
Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Teso South MP Mary Emaase.
During the tour, the President inspected the progress of the
Nangina Affordable Housing Project in Funyula constituency.
“We have resolved the legal challenges that had delayed its
implementation, and the project is now expected to be completed within the next
six months,” he said.
He also launched the construction of the 15km Matayos-Nangina
and Nangina-Sio Port-Mumbaka roads, which are being constructed at a combined cost of Sh773
million.
Ruto said the project is part of the
government’s plan to improve connectivity and boost economic activity in the
region.
The roads are expected to enhance transport to Sio Port and the surrounding
areas, easing the movement of goods and people.
The President said infrastructure development remains key to unlocking growth,
adding that the project will support trade and livelihoods in Busia and
neighbouring counties.
“For many years, Kenya’s development was slowed by leadership that lacked
vision. That era is behind us. Today, we are moving the country forward with
deliberate investments in critical sectors,” Ruto said.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Ruto’s readiness to engage in direct verbal combat with
opponents underscores the deepening rivalry between the President and sections
of the opposition, setting the stage for a potentially bruising political contest
in the months ahead.