Ruto turns to Bible in his fight for survival

Deputy President William Ruto (pictured) has resorted to citing biblical verses, aptly chosen to send the message that he will overcome the political challenges that have turned him into an outsider in a government he helped form.

And his allies have also taken to the same messaging script to respond to critics as their camp increasingly comes under heavy fire from the combined forces of a hostile Jubilee wing and the opposition working to scuttle the DP’s presidential bid.

But critics have accused Dr Ruto and his allies of lacking the courage to directly confront President Uhuru Kenyatta, hence their strategy to use the Bible and cryptic responses that leave it up to the interpretation of others as to who is the target of their responses.

Ruto has been tweeting furiously from the margins of power in response to an alleged plot to elbow him out of Jubilee Party, claims of being sidelined from government meetings, the rise of new power men in Mr Kenyatta’s circles, the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and claims of senior government officials working against his interests.

The latest statements to upset the DP are declarations by Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe and Cotu boss Francis Atwoli that Uhuru and ODM leader Raila Odinga are working on an alliance in the lead-up to the 2022 elections. 

Quoting verses from the book of Psalms, Ruto sought to portray himself as a victim targeted by forces out to bring him down.

“Psalm 27:1-4 of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall,” Ruto wrote on Twitter on April 26.

He added: “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot liked the tweet, saying: “Keeping up with Nancy Gitau (former State House political advisor), Prof Mutahi Ngunyi (political analyst) and Murathe delusions ‘series’.”

Mr Cheruiyot further claimed: “Sadly, that’s the furthest it can fly. Free advice, the only way is to just appoint them to Cabinet, we’ll support.”

Telling posts

Ruto’s camp has claimed Gitau, Ngunyi and Murathe are among those opposed to the DP’s bid. In the past, they have also accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and his PS Karanja Kibicho of undermining Ruto.

Senator Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen also turned to the scriptures to lament about a person who betrayed his friends in a telling post.

“As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises. His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers! Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you ... Psalms 55:20-22,” read Mr Murkomen’s tweet in response to reports of an alliance between Uhuru and Raila. 

The previous day, the DP had asked the Jubilee fraternity to ignore “desperadoes seeking ragtag ethnic coalitions” through a post reacting to yet another report. It had quoted a high-ranking Jubilee official who had alluded to the President having a secret card he could pull to sidestep the hostile wing of Jubilee opposed to his March 9, 2018 handshake with Raila. 

Article 9(8) of the Jubilee constitution stipulates that “the party leader shall promote political consultation, engagement and co-operation with other political parties and coalitions”, which the official cited to suggest the party leader had ultimate authority to pursue alliances.  

But Ruto responded that the Jubilee constitution vests power in party organs not personalities, while his allies cited Article 32 on the National Executive Committee’s mandate to pass resolutions to enter a pre-election coalition with any political party.  

On April 18, a story on how the DP’s office had been stripped of power prompted Ruto to fire back: “1 Peter 5:10, And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

King Saul and David’s duel was also dragged into the controversy over a local television show that dismissed Ruto’s presidential bid, which saw Uasin Gishu Woman Rep Gladys Boss take on Ngunyi.

Gladys questioned who was being referred to as King Saul in the commentary, which drew parallels between Ruto’s political strategy and David’s.

“His predecessor King Saul made life hell for David but because leadership was his, David became king in spite of not fighting Saul. If it suggests that Ruto is David, staying where he is not wanted and facing humiliation, then do the authors of the script mean Kenyatta is Saul?” Gladys posed.

“Saul devolved into a spiteful, vindictive and blind benevolent character who did what he could to thwart David. It must be remembered that even though David had multiple opportunities to harm Saul, he often rejected them opting to patiently endeavour whatever Saul meted out,” she added.

The fallout during that show saw Ngunyi accuse Ruto and his allies of shadow-boxing instead of directly taking on whomever they thought is their adversary.

 “Jomo Kenyatta used to tell us: “Wanaume ni kuonana.” The Ruto camp is a house of cowards. Why not confront Uhuru Kenyatta head-on instead of fishing for soft punching bags? My fren @kipmurkomen, why are you afraid? Why is your tail between your legs?” Ngunyi posted on Twitter. 

The DP and his allies have since the beginning of the year, when political fights escalated until coronavirus put the brakes on politics, made it the norm to use the Bible to tactfully respond to unravelling political developments.  

In February and March, when the DP’s office was sucked into the controversial multi-billion fake arms deal linked to former CS Rashid Echesa and the murder of Sergeant Frank Kenei, a guard at the DP’s office, the scriptures came in handy.

In March, the DP posted: “Isaiah 40:31: But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Heavenly forces

It was at the burial of Kenei that Ruto claimed the system was working for his downfall, including his elimination. He said since the system could not elect anybody, it could only kill.

“Galatians 6:9: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up,”  he later wrote.

On February 2, Murkomen tweeted: “The Lord of heavenly forces has created a plan; who can stop it? God’s hand is extended; who will stop it? Isaiah 14:27 Nobody can stop God’s plan” in reference to the alleged schemes against the DP. 

Murkomen shared another verse in solidarity with former State House officials who were fired but have found a home in the DP’s corner. “Proverbs 24:17-18, Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble. For the Lord will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them.”

In an apparent reference to the strained relationship between Uhuru and Ruto, Murkomen shared the Lord’s Prayer and a past picture of the president, Ruto and Rev Teresa Wairimu holding hands in prayer.

Cheruiyot also weighed in: “Jeremiah 33:3: Call unto me and I will answer you and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Lord gracious hear us and teach us how to walk in your ways.”

He blamed their woes on Raila.

“Jubilee’s foster children (ODM) should know their limits and access in their new home. The dispute is between the father, mother and children. Like all good guests relax quietly.”

Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa, a defender of the DP, wrote on March 21: “Hear us, Lord. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14, When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”