Why Ruto’s assassination claim should be probed deeply

I was not surprised when I heard Deputy President William Ruto claiming some senior Government officials had hatched a plot to assassinate him.

A few months earlier, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, one of his staunch supporters, had made similar allegations. But when a journalist asked him whether he had recorded a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), he could not confirm that. He only gave a somewhat trivial statement that the threats were real, and that the powerful forces in Government, who were opposed to DP’s bid, were determined to use all means to block him from succeeding President Uhuru in 2022.

At the time, I raised a number of questions. Is the MP serious? Matters touching on threats to the life of a deputy president are not mere rhetoric. If not properly handled, they could trigger major divisions in Government and stir ethnic hatred.

The sad experiences of 2007-2008 are still fresh in our minds. Why would the MP want to take us back this route? What does he stand to gain? How come no action has been taken against him? The law is very clear.

When one makes such weighty allegations, the first step is to record a statement. This would clear the way for DCI detectives to immediately start investigations. Sudi failed to do that. I think a time has come for the police not to cave in to political blackmail, intimidation and propaganda.

My personal opinion is that the MP’s statement is meant to slow down the war on corruption and defeat the purpose of lifestyle audits. It goes without saying that the DP has been mentioned in one or two of the scandals.

On matters touching on the arrest of the four Mt Kenya Cabinet secretaries, who are purportedly linked to the assassination claims, I would like to raise another question: How come such claims are only made when Mt Kenya leaders meet?

We have heard leaders from North Rift holding similar night meetings to discuss issues concerning their people yet no bizarre assassination claims are made.

Leaders in Mt Kenya should continue to meet without being intimidated. They should not stand aside and be harassed by the DP and his henchmen who only want to draw sympathy.

This matter should be investigated. After that, legal action should be taken on whoever is on the wrong side of the law.