Arrest leaders behind fracas, Ruto tells police
DPPS
Deputy President William Ruto yesterday asked police to hold to account the leaders behind Sunday’s violence at Kenol, Murang’a County, which left two people dead.
Ruto said the perpetrators were well-known to the authorities and should be arrested.
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“The security apparatus is aware of those who caused the violence. Action must be taken against them, irrespective of their political standing,” said Ruto.
He said the Murang’a skirmishes were a continuation of what had happened in Kisii County a month ago when some youths were deployed to cause violence during his visit there.
“It also happened in Kajiado recently where the provincial administration was used to intimidate and threaten wananchi from attending my function,” he added.
The Deputy President spoke at his Karen residence, Nairobi, yesterday during a meeting with grassroots leaders from Narok County.
Leaders present included Members of Parliament Gabriel Tongoyo (Narok West), Aramat Lemanken (Narok East), David ole Sankok (Nominated), George Sunkuyia (Kajiado West) and Kajiado Senator Phillip Mpaayei.
Others were MPs Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East), Mohammed Ali (Nyali), Japheth Mutai (Bureti), Mugambi Rindikiri (Buuri), Malulu Injendi (Malava) and former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar.
Ruto said the sporadic violence being witnessed in his meetings was a product of people uncomfortable with his brand of politics that targeted ordinary people.
He said the country was yearning for issues-based politics.
“We want the politics of uniting and transforming our country. Let us focus on the politics of the ordinary people.”
Lifting those at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid is not a threat to those at the peak of it, he added.
“We can all walk together. No one is at threat with this new conversation.”
Ruto said he would not be stopped from discharging his duties as Deputy President.
He said he would intensify his call for a change in political conversation in Kenya.
“It is difficult. It is uncomfortable. But we must have this discussion. We are going to intensify this talk so that we can empower everyone,” he said.
Separately, in Murang’a’ residents held a peaceful demonstration to protest the killing of two people during Sunday’s mayhem which followed Ruto’s visit to the area.
Marching on the streets of Kenol town, the youth under the Murang’a Peace and Governance Forum demanded justice for the victims.
Led by George Kinyua, the youths accused political leaders of fuelling the chaos which led to the deaths.
Kinyua said it was wrong for leaders to use the youth as their weapon by setting them up to fight against each other.
“It’s very painful to have lost the young people and we demand that justice takes it course in this matter,” he said.
Kinyua accused the leaders of being selfish and self centred, saying instead of empowering the youth to become self-reliant, they were inciting them to kill one another.
“A big number of young people here have certificates in various professions and they have no jobs, and we if these leaders are genuine, they should be helping us to secure jobs,” he said.
Youth leader Mungai Karanja said it’s high time young people stopped being used by politicians as goons.
He said no amount of money can buy one’s life terming the death of the two young people as unfortunate.
“We should desist from being used as political weapons and instead focus on what’s beneficial for our lives,” he said.
Karanja urged local leaders to stop playing dirty and divisive politics.
“The leaders are our role models and they ought to be setting a good example instead of inciting people to violence,” he said.
“We can also be agents of change by demanding for better services from these leaders.”
Wambui Njoki, another youth leader, called for speedy investigations into the incident, adding that those involved in planning the fracas should be arrested and charged.
“We are demanding a comprehensive report over the incident in the next 14 days and those implicated to be charged,” said Njoki.
She said Murang’a should not be turned into a political battle field and those who want to taint the county’s image should keep off.
The youth presented a peace memorandum to the assistant county commissioner Mungania Mawira.
