I’ll ensure Kenya is safe, Ruto says as Gachagua censures clergy over dialogue calls

 

President William Ruto has fired yet another warning shot at the opposition over chaotic protests and vowed to stand firm to ensure the country was safe.

This even as Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua lambasted the clergy for pushing the President to dialogue with opposition chief Raila Odinga to end the demos.

Speaking in Murang’a on Friday, Ruto in apparent reference to Raila, warned that he won’t allow anyone to instigate chaos and violence in the country.

“We don’t want violence and fights, and we won’t allow anyone to bring us war or violence because we do not have time to fight as citizens,” he said at Murang’a Boys High School.

The head of state spoke at the time his government has mounted a massive crackdown on the Raila-led opposition to end streets protests.

Several people have died, dozens injured and several protesters, including MPs, arrested in the clampdown that has slowed down the protests.

The opposition and human rights defenders have accused the police of executions and unlawful detention of opposition MPs and protesters.

“I want to assure you that we shall ensure that the country is safe. We are a democratic and peaceful country,” Ruto said.

“We want time to work on the economy and to make sure that we grow our country and make sure that we live in a prosperous country."

Speaking at the same event, DP Gachagua launched a scathing attack on the clergy for pushing the President to sit down with a 'political blackmailer.’

In a clear indication that the President may not sit down with the opposition boss, Gachagua claimed sitting down with Raila will amount to succumbing to his ‘blackmail.’

“If you ask the president to sit down with a blackmailer, you are asking the president of Kenya to commit a crime,” he asserted.

The clergy has been calling on the President and the opposition leader to engage in a dialogue to end the protests that paralysed the country. 

According to Gachagua, Raila has been consistent with demos throughout his political life, a scenario he termed blackmail to share power.

“It is good to be truthful because you are men of God. This thing is not happening in isolation. It is a script that has happened after every five years,” the DP claimed.

The DP lauded the police for their ‘firm’ action against the protesters to ensure the country was peaceful.

“Kenya can now move forward. The directions that you have and ably implemented by people below you, bring to an end the politics of blackmail in our country,” Gachagua said.

The DP asked Kenyans to resume their normal activities, adding that the country has been liberated from ‘criminals’ who instilled fear in them.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa and his Senate counterpart Aaron Cheruiyot thumped up the security officers containing the protests.

“We can’t have a situation where people fear to walk around their country because of some acts of a few people,” Cheruiyot said.

The Kericho senator said the police did a marvelous job fighting off the protesters.

Ichung’wa ask the task force on police welfare to fast-track its work to reward the officers who stood firm to ensure the country was peaceful.

“It is now time that the task force must complete the report so that we add our police officers’ salaries and allowances,” he said.

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro warned the opposition that they will not threaten President Ruto.

"For those people of maandamano, I think you now know that the President is not someone you can easily threaten," he said.    BY THE STAR