Ruto’s Decision To Work With All Elected Leaders Commendable

By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga

Worth Noting:

• Ruto is tougher and a hard nut to crack. So, Raila should rethink his stand. You have been having bad dreams. Please shun them.
• If you ignore, try to swear yourself and mobilize and incite your supporters to stage ‘a civilian coup’.
• President Ruto will deal with you accordingly. He will not use force. He will use the provisions of the constitution.
• Plotting a coup against a democratically and popularly elected government is treasonable and the plotters would be sentenced to death or serve a life in prison.

President William Ruto has dismissed claims that he is out to wreck the opposition.

Speaking during a Sunday Church service in Nakuru town, he said he is ready to work with leaders including his competitors, in uniting the country and development.

This should not be interpreted as destroying the opposition. This is unity of purpose.

Dr Ruto’s remarks seemed directed at Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya leader Raila Odinga.

As the service proceeded, Raila, who had pitched tent in Busia for yet another protest rally, once again condemned the MPs affiliated to Azimio who were trooping to State House.

He alleged they were going there for handouts and accused the President of spending millions of shillings to bribe them.

These MPs are traitors and they were being led by their stomach. We do not want them back. Let them continue to wine and dine with the people who have been ‘messing your life’, he fumed.

He spoke just two days after Langata MP Jalango was ejected from a crisis meeting he had convened at Manzooni lodge in Machakos.

In Busia, Raila once again lamented that President Ruto did not win the elections. As such, I do not recognize him as the President.

He ‘stole your victory’ and you are entitled to fight for your rights.

Listening to Raila’s narrative, he is hoping that he can use   shortcuts and unconstitutional means to topple Ruto’s government.

He had tried the same card during the reigns of Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta. He never succeeded.

Ruto is tougher and a hard nut to crack. So, Raila should rethink his stand. You have been having bad dreams. Please shun them.

If you ignore, try to swear yourself and mobilize and incite your supporters to stage ‘a civilian coup’.

President Ruto will deal with you accordingly. He will not use force. He will use the provisions of the constitution.

Plotting a coup against a democratically and popularly elected government is treasonable and the plotters would be sentenced to death or serve a life in prison.

We know that the IEBC is mandated by the constitution to conduct the general elections and referanda.

We recall in the countdown to the last year’s polls, both Raila and Ruto repeatedly stated they have confidence in the commission and will accept the outcome.

Raila changed the goalpost after the completion of vote-tallying.

This did not come as surprise.  He had set a bad precedent. He would only accept the results if he’s the one declared as ‘winner’.

For the fifth time he was not lucky and this is despite the fact he was enjoying the support of the deep state and the system.

Dr Ruto won the elections and this declaration was made by IEBC chairman in accordance with provisions of the constitution.

Raila immediately filed a petition at the Supreme Court to challenge the results. He had assured Kenyans that he will accept the verdict of the court.

He changed the tune immediately after seven judges of the court unanimously dismissed his case.

The court termed his petition as ‘hot air’. This is because it had been built from propaganda and rumors.

This informs why Raila opted to return to what he terms as ‘fighting from trenches’.

Let him accept the bitter truth. He lost the election and Dr Ruto government has no room for ‘nusu mkate’. He should move on.

Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi