High Expectations as Ruto Make A Maiden Working Tour Of Kisii Counties
The Mt Kenya Times 
President Ruto while at Kisii National Polytechnic Thursday. Head of State has kicked off a three-day visit of Kisii, Nyamira and Migori counties
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- The president has not changed this position. This is despite mounting pressure from the churches, a section of Muslim leaders and non-state actors calling on him and Raila to cede the hardline stances.
- Before the Catholic bishops released the latest statement, Dr Ruto had twice extended an olive branch to the opposition leaders.
- I have no problem meeting any of these leaders so long as we hold these talks within the confines of the law.
- In apparent reference to Raila’s call for mass action, threat to storm State House and stage a civilian coup, he posed. Surely, do you expect me to engage a leader who is hell-bent on plunging this country into anarchy and orgy of bloodshed?
President William Ruto is currently on a three-day working tour of Kisii counties.
The visit was preceded by a flurry of political activities that culminated to two high profile meetings.
The President chaired the first meeting at State House which was attended by the lawmakers from the region.
The presence of three ODM MPs demonstrated the commitment of President to counter the campaign of mass action and defiance spearheaded by the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition leader Raila Odinga.
We know Raila is on a revenge mission. This is because I refused to share the government with him.
During the reigns of Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, he blackmailed, intimidated, arm-twisted them and finally had his way. He had developed a bad habit. This must now come to end.
He lost election and should he accept the bitter truth. His role as an opposition leader is well defined in the constitution.
He should stick to his lane. When we go wrong, he is free to correct and engage us in structured and constructive criticisms.
A leader, who is worth salt, would also offer solutions that are tenable and practical.
The president has not changed this position. This is despite mounting pressure from the churches, a section of Muslim leaders and non-state actors calling on him and Raila to cede the hardline stances.
Before the Catholic bishops released the latest statement, Dr Ruto had twice extended an olive branch to the opposition leaders.
I have no problem meeting any of these leaders so long as we hold these talks within the confines of the law.
In apparent reference to Raila’s call for mass action, threat to storm State House and stage a civilian coup, he posed. Surely, do you expect me to engage a leader who is hell-bent on plunging this country into anarchy and orgy of bloodshed?
To me, Dr Ruto is right. No meaningful negotiations can take place when one party is digging in.
Dr Ruto has maintained that the agenda of the talks will focus on the role of the government and opposition in furthering the course of democracy and public will.
Back to preparations for the President’s visit to the two counties of Ekegusii land- Kisii and Nyamira counties, Education Cabinet Secretary Machogu hosted and chaired the second meeting attended a bigger group of the leaders.
Besides preparing a memorandum of development projects they wanted the president to commission during the visit, they also discussed former Interior CS Fred Matiangi’s predicament.
Matiangi is influential leader in this region. We do want the president to lose support of our people.
The popular perception here is that the woes facing thier son (Matiangi) was politically instigated.
So, the meeting at Machogu’s home resolved to stand in solidarity with him.
As a way of reciprocating the gesture, some of leaders revealed that the former CS has agreed to ditch former President Uhuru Kenyatta and join and support Kenya Kwanza government.
Matiangi had a few days earlier been summoned by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to record a statement. He was grilled for seven hours. This is in connection to claims he had made that dozens of the police officers had raided his home in Karen Nairobi at night.
Reports indicated the DCI wanted to lock him up but changed thier mind after former president Kenyatta and Raila Odinga intervened.
Two days later the office of DPP dropped the charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and giving false information.
The head of DPP Nordin Haji said the file forwarded by DCI did not contain sufficient evidence to charge him.
On his first day, the president left no doubt he had gone there with a bagful of goodies.
In what was seen as reading from the script of the memorandum presented to him, he commissioned a number of projects.
Turning to Raila call for mass action, he told Jubilant Kisii residents.
Tell these people (Azimio) to stop thier demonstrations.
I know you don’t support them, he said amid cheers and ululations from crowd.
They should give me time. I am working very hard to revive the economy and help these young people (hustlers) get jobs.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi
Similar Posts by The Mt Kenya Times:
- Pan-African leaders call for borderless Africa and urgent continental unity
- Pan-African leader calls for unity, youth empowerment and economic transformation
- Wantam or Tutam: The then what next?
- Gachagua escalates war with Ruto, questions his security
- Uhuru draws the line
About the Author
