Ruto warns leaders against sowing seeds of discord in the country

 

President William Ruto addresses congregants during an Interdenominational church service at Amutala Stadium in Kimilili, Bungoma County. [PCS]

President William Ruto has once again fired a salvo at politicians he said were out to divide the country along tribal lines.

Ruto has vowed not to allow the country to slide back into past dark days citing the 2007-2008 post-election violence that was caused by reckless statements that polarised the country along ethnic lines according to the President.

Speaking during an Interdenominational Church Service at Amutala Stadium in Kimilili Constituency, Bungoma County, Sunday, the President said that although the Constitution gives Kenyans the right to express themselves, they should not resort to statements that are likely to create animosity and hatred among communities.

He said Kenya will never go back to politics of ethnicity, personality and exclusion.

“We don’t want to go back to where we were in 2007-2008 and you all know it’s careless statements from leaders, that took us there, if the trend is allowed to continue, it can easily land the country into anarchy," he said.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula were present.

Also present were Cabinet Secretaries Susan Nakhumicha (Health) and Kithure Kindiki (Interior) and Governors Kenneth Lusaka (Bungoma), Fernandes Barasa (Kakamega) and Paul Otuoma (Busia) and more than 15 legislators.

The president underscored the need for national unity and cohesion, warning against the detrimental effects of tribalism on Kenya's progress and stability.

"The time for playing politics with tribal identities is over. I have been in politics long enough than most of you and I know the danger of entrenching tribal politics," said Ruto.

"We will not allow senior political leaders in the country to incite communities against each other for selfish political gains. It is time for leaders to rise above parochial interests and work towards the collective good of all Kenyans," he added.

The President's remarks come amid growing concerns over escalating ethnic tensions in the country fueled by political rhetoric over the perceived fall-out between him and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

In his speech, Ruto fell short of naming those he believed were out to polarise the nation along tribal lines.

Tribalism has long been a divisive force in Kenyan politics, often exploited by leaders seeking to consolidate power or mobilise support along ethnic lines.

Ruto urged fellow leaders to prioritise national interests over narrow tribal allegiances, calling for dialogue and cooperation across party lines.

"Our diversity should be our strength, not a source of division," emphasized President Ruto. "We must embrace our common identity as Kenyans and work together towards building a prosperous and harmonious society for future generations," he said.

The President announced that Sh150 million will be released within two weeks to pay accrued salary arrears for workers at Nzoia Sugar Company, saying the allocation has been factored in the supplementary budget.

"Going forward, the government will not be bailing out a company that receives sugarcane from farmers, crushes and then sells sugar. The managers then put the money in their pockets and ask government to help them pay farmers and the employees," he said.

This company has disturbed us for close to 40 years due to mismanagement and runaway corruption. We have placed the sugar factory on a leasing programme and new management will be put in place so that we can start realising profits," he added.

Ruto also announced that the hurdles that stood in the way of the revival of Mumias Sugar Company had been removed.  "We have signed all the agreements with the investor and the factory should resume its full operations in two weeks time," he said.

"Farmers within Mumias Sugar Belt will start earning bonuses in the next 12 months and those within Nzoia Sugar belt within 18 months. The two factories have nucleus estates and must give farmers bonuses because those pieces of land belong to the public," he said.

Mudavadi assured Kenyans that no region would be left out in President Ruto's development agenda.

"When you see a project being launched somewhere, let us be happy because we are all Kenyans. No area will be left undeveloped," said Mudavadi.

Wetang'ula asked Kenyans not to fall prey to tribal alignments but to co-exist peacefully with one another.

"We are all Kenyans, lets respect each other and stop undermining anyone," he said.

Earlier, a section of religious leaders from the Western region had called out President Ruto for allegedly allowing politicians from his Rift Valley to antagonize Gachagua.

Over 20 bishops and imams, led by apostle Ken Barasa, the Kakamega County Chaplain, said: “We see elected leaders from Rift Valley trying to create animosity between the President and his Deputy, raising political temperatures and putting the country in an electioneering mood."

"Ruto must rise to the occasion and call his MPs who are attacking Gachagua to order. The effects of the misunderstanding between Ruto and Gachagua are now reaching the grassroots, and if allowed to continue, it will derail Kenya Kwanza's development agenda," he said.

Apostle Barasa drew parallels to the past, saying, “Ruto knows well that his previous misunderstanding with former President Uhuru Kenyatta derailed the Big Four Agenda and fueled political animosity, pushing the country to the edge as communities aligned politically along tribal lines.”