Ruto Warns Raila Against Staging Mass Protests

President William Ruto has advised former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, against violent demonstrations ahead of the latter's public consultations with regard to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Speaking at Tatu City Special Economic Zone for the official opening of the Twiga foods distribution Centre on Monday, November 28, Ruto invited the opposing Azimio la Umoja coalition to work with his government, adding that they are free to criticise them on any aspect but to do so peacefully.

He expressed that Raila's organising of demonstrations would not help in bringing the Kenya Kwanza government to account.

"I want to tell our brothers in the opposition to work with us, to criticise whatever they want to criticise but let's keep the country peaceful. We want everybody to do their job, we want to do our job and we wish well for the opposition in doing their job, but they should do it peacefully. 

"I do not think organising demonstrations and getting Kenyans to do the things they want Kenyans to do is part of holding any government to account. They are free to criticise what we are doing, that's okay with us and we appreciate but I want to encourage them not to drive Kenyans against one another," he said.

In a rebuttal against the opposition, Ruto accused the Azimio coalition of trying to dig their own hole by carving out a dictatorial style within the coalition when they have been accusing the government of regressing the country to the Nyayo regime.

"Street demonstrations and street fights should not be part of the script of any responsible opposition unless they want to be a dictatorial opposition, which I don't think that's where they want to go because that works for nobody and it doesn't even work for them," he added.

Raila had threatened to stage mass protests over the looming ouster of the four dissenting IEBC commissioners. 

IEBC Vice chairperson Juliana Cherera and commissioners Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit and Justus Nyang'aya are accused of gross violation of the Constitution and a breach of their oath of office, which makes their status, according to them, illegal to hold office.

"We are going to consult widely with the people of Kenya, beginning Wednesday (November 30) in Nairobi. We will have a meeting with the people at Kamukunji Grounds to ask them if they accept that these commissioners should go home," Raila said.

However, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua warned against using other Kenyan children to protest the petitions, daring him and Wiper party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, to ensure that their daughter and son lead the mass protests he is asking Kenyans to take part in.

"If they want the people to go to the street, they must lead by example. These people who want our children to go to the street have organised for their children to serve in EALA in Arusha.

"Let your daughter and son come from Arusha and physically lead the demonstrations and the rest of Kenya can follow,” Gachagua said at a church service on Sunday at CITAM church in Karen.