Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has taken an instantaneous turn on his harsh lecture against Public Service Cabinet Secretary (CS) Geoffrey Ruku saying that it was misreported.
This after Kindiki told off CS Ruku during a consultative meeting with elders in Mbeere North, Embu County on Saturday, urging him to always defend the government since he is now a Cabinet member and not a “normal citizen”.
“My younger brother Ruku, the flag is not a piece of cloth. It should be respected. You should defend the government and let the people know what it is doing and what has not yet happened, you ensure it is done,” Kindiki noted.
“You are no longer an MP you are a CS. What you have told me, we will push for its implementation together. You are the government, we sit with you in Cabinet. That is the highest decision-making body in the country and the president is the chairman.”
He added: “You cannot be a minister, and instead of telling the people where government programmes have reached, you come here to incite and complain. It is not possible. If you want to complain, out. If you want to fight for the development of Mbeere, in.”
The matter sparked jitters online, forcing DP Kindiki to pen a rebuttal against reports detailing his lecture.
Taking to social media on Monday, the second-in-command termed the report as false, noting that the sentiments were directed at a former CS hailing from the same region.
“Seen a desperate, mischievous and utterly malicious twist insinuating that I lectured and disrespected my neighbour CS Geoffrey Ruku, my friend for years. FALSEHOOD is cheap,” he wrote.
“My remark being discussed referred to a former Cabinet Secretary from the same area and other ex-leaders who manifested similar conduct, to affirm that governments worldwide operate on the principle of collective responsibility.”
He further maintained that government leaders should always strive to defend the State’s policies and actions and not speak against it.
“Pretending to be “clever” by undermining a government that you are a senior part of is illegal and anti-people. It is for the opposition to oppose, criticize and correct the government,” he said.
Kindiki’s lecture came after Ruku, while lauding the state for developing parts of the county, requested the tarmacking of a road in the region.
“They (elders) have said that there is a road that has been an issue coming from Gikuyari to Ishiara, they are asking if that road will be tarmacked this year,” Ruku said.
“And for that, they have decided that they will support President Ruto’s and his deputy Kindiki.”