Ruto vows no maandamano will happen on his watch
President William Ruto has declared that he will not allow anti-government protests to take place next week despite opposition leader Raila Odinga urging Kenyans to take to the streets in protest of the current regime.
Ruto's sentiments came just hours after the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party declared that it will hold the protests for three consecutive days next week, from Wednesday to Friday, due to 'public demand'.
Speaking in Nakuru County on Friday after launching the Njabini-Naivasha Road, President Ruto stated that violence and destruction of property, which have become the norm during the protests, not occur under his watch.
"Walifanya maandamano Ijumaa iliyopita watu saba wakakufa; wamefanya maandamano juzi watu nane wakakufa. Mliona vile mali iliharibika Nairobi na vile vijana wamelipwa wafanye fujo? Mnataka tuendelee na hii maandamano?" posed Ruto.
"Maandamano haiwezi kufanyika tena katika taifa letu la Kenya. Hiyo wanasema Wednesday, hiyo maandamano haiwezekani. Huyo mtu wa Kitendawili, alileta fujo, alileta mapinduzi watu wakakufa kule nyuma."
Ruto added that the former prime minister has been a hindrance for the past governments for decades.
"Akakuja akaangamiza mzee Kibaki, mara choo, mara sijui carpet. Mpaka mzee akafanya kazi lakini kazi hiyo haikuendelea vile ilikuwa inatakikana," he said.
Ruto blamed Raila for allegedly derailing the realisation of the Big 4 Agenda, first mooted during former President Uhuru Kenyatta's government.
"Akakuja akachanganya Uhuru, ile mambo yetu ya Big 4 ikapotea...tukaenda BBI mpaka tukaingia madeni. Saa hii tuko na deni ya trilioni tisa," said Ruto.
Ruto subsequently urged Raila to stop living in the past since he lost last year's presidential elections.
"Nataka kumwambia Bwana Raila Odinga, uchaguzi iliisha mwaka uliopita. Huwezi kutafuta uongozi wa taifa letu la Kenya kutumia damu ya wananchi, maafa ya wananchi na kuharibu mali ya Kenya," he said.
"Hiyo haiwezekani na hakuna vile utabadilisha Kenya kwa hiyo barabara unaenda na hiyo barabara umeenda nataka kukuhakikishie, mimi niko na wewe macho kwa macho. Tutakutana; haiwezekani."
