Recent utterances by several members of Parliament, all seemingly aimed at Kenyans and made with reckless abandon and much political bravado, have left Kenyans in shock and utter disbelief of the attitude President William Ruto’s staunchest men have suddenly embraced.
It all hit a crescendo at the funeral of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula’s mother when politician after politician walked up to the podium, and, in sheer disrespect for the deceased, launched into a prolonged tirade aimed at their perceived political foe.
As the President watched, these men in suits shamelessly tore into each other, with some spewing highly toxic diatribes at their detractors, eventually setting the stage for what ultimately became a discordant mess of virulence and verbal venom.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya fired the first salvo, eyeballing the President and brazenly asking him to put his house in order, rein in his security apparatus and immediately release all the abducted youth.
As the two leaders – and many others who spoke on that podium – traded barbs and fiery expletives, Kenyans who attended the event were forced to clap sycophantically to whichever leader appealed to their emotions – or greased their pockets.
On abducted Kenyans, Senate speaker Amasóin Kingi was categorical: Kenyans had to respect the President or face the music.
He said: “We must differentiate between democracy and indiscipline. Every citizen has the right to criticise the government – but even that right has a limit. If you cross the limit, the law must follow you. You cannot get personal. If you ridicule anyone online, the law will catch up with you. We will enforce that law!”
COTU Boss Francis Atwoli too didn’t mince his words, unequivocally urging the President to intensify his crackdown on dissent and even throwing an insidious suggestion – a return to the Mzee Moi era.
“Your right is not key to tamper with the rights of others. We must respect the office of the President,” he stated.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, too, issued a thinly veiled warning to errant Kenyans ridiculing his boss online.
He said; “Politics can be personal but leaders must respect others. The first two years of President Ruto in power have been very difficult. Even though it is the government’s obligation to protect its citizens, the same government must also ensure that those who violate the law are forced to face the law.”
As the temperatures continued to rise, and leader after leader urged the President to clamp down even harder on dissidents and online agitators, it appeared that more of such incredibly troublesome gospel would be repeated just 48 hours later.
During an interdenominational service at Kerio Valley in Elgeyo Marakwet on Sunday, January 5, a service attended by President Ruto and his close political allies, yet another round of vitriolic salvos were fired at Kenyans who were supposedly dumb enough to attempt to question the seemingly untouchable Ruto rule.
Without mincing words, Tiaty Member of Parliament (MP) William Kamket kicked off the storm, making utterances which not only revolted Kenyans but left millions bewildered.
While encouraging the President to keep up with his “good work” and ignore detractors, he said, “I come from that county, Baringo County, where we know what the number 24 years means.”
“We are the ones who know how to manufacture for the President to be on the seat for 24 years.”
His utterances were an apparent reference to former President Daniel Moi’s unchallenged hold on power for 24 years.
He added, “If they play, if they play, we can even tell you to go for some additional time!”
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi was quick to correct him, making sure to leave his insinuations open to everyone’s interpretation.
“Kamket, we are people who honour the Constitution. President Ruto, you have eight years remaining on your term for you to exit the office and go home,” Sudi said.
At the same podium, Sudi also made flagrant threats at dissenting Kenyans, especially the Gen Z disparaging the President online.
“President Ruto, nobody should threaten you. Have you ever seen a country where a president serves for one term?” Sudi posed.
While also brashly declaring his viciousness at dealing with the opposition, Sudi hinted at his thorough – and even scary – effectiveness had he been nominated to the Interior Ministry docket.
“If I were given the security docket, in just three days, the foolishness of drawing things online would end. No country should be governed by foolishness. The country must be led with respect and the constitution, and no one should undermine the president,” Sudi boldly stated.
These leaders’ lethal speeches, which appear to harbour no fear of the electorate and seem to have been encouraged by the Presidency itself, have continued to worry Kenyans with many calling out the excessiveness in the arrogance and haughtiness of Ruto’s closest men.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, himself a converted Ruto ally, couldn’t have it himself either.
On January 3, he wrote: “If those who spoke are the people he listens to, Ruto is in more trouble than he knows. Freedom of speech cannot be limited beyond the limitations in Article 33.”
“Even that Computer Misuse law those ignorant leaders have cited is Unconstitutional. Social media is not the problem. The problem is the policies of this regime that continue to hurt Kenyans.”
And again on January 5, he doubled down on his previous sentiments, writing, “It is obvious the President’s men know the gig is up and nothing can be done to change his fortunes in 2027. All that chest-thumping from Sudi and Kamket are attempts to mask the fact that they have accepted his fate. There will never be another 2007 where the will of the people is overturned.”
Also reacting to Sudi’s threat of extending Ruto’s rule, X user Nomadic Panda wrote, “We also haven’t seen too many elections getting annulled, but we’re a nation of firsts, rest assured Mr Sudi!”
Someone else opined, “These men seem to have forgotten June 2024! Have you seen how they’re all suddenly talking? Have you seen the swagger in their walk? The arrogance in their talk? This is not more than just statements. These people know what they’re doing. But Kenyans are not the type to be toyed with!”
Former LSK President Nelson Havi also commented, saying, “Oscar Sudi uttered unpalatable words of Uhuru Kenyatta’s mother. He was not abducted or disappeared. He was arrested in broad daylight and arraigned in Court. I gave my personal undertaking to Prof Joel Ngugi J that he will not repeat the vitriolic comments to secure his release.”
President Ruto’s men, who had been somewhat cautious in their public utterances, lest they invoke the ire of Gen Z, now appear to be vehemently braced for a spirited confrontation with the people who elected them – and anyone daring sully the image of their boss.
While all they’ve done so far is merely talk at political podiums, Kenyans are afraid of what could actually happen if these men were granted full authority by the President to wreak havoc and, actually, run amok.
“I have not seen the President castigate any of these politicians for these bewildering utterances, all made in his presence. He appears to have okayed the talk. Kenyans should pray that these are just words and not dire warnings of what is to come,” Nderitu Mwangi, an X user, said.
