Ruto, Gachagua escalate war of words amid calls for restraint

President William Ruto and his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua escalated the war of words in disregard for calls from the clergy and other stakeholders to tone down personality politics.

President Ruto, who unveiled several projects in Vihiga and Bungoma counties, maintained that opposition leaders have long dragged him into personality politics instead of engaging him on development, adding that he was now ready for them.

DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua was also unrelenting in attacks on the President, whom he now accuses of manipulating tenders.

The President yet again repeated body-shaming remarks against his opponents saying, “Sasa kuna yule jamaa amenona, amevimba kichwa… juzi ananijibu ati hakuli kwa bibi yangu. Niliwaambia punguzeni popote mnakula, mnalala kwa mikutano, mnachafua hewa…”

DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua was ready for the body-shaming debate.

“Mwili ni maumbile ya Mungu. Kuna wamama hapa wako na mwili kubwa mzuri na hawajakula chakula yoyote," he said.

President Ruto then, for the second time, turned to his Kitale target.

“Kuna yule jamaa wa Kitale anatuambia nini? Atafute bibi kwanza, anunua diapers na Cerelac kabla akuje hapa kutupatia lecture ya uongozi…” Ruto said.

He did not spare his former deputy either. He said, “Wewe tulikufukuza bunge kwa sababu ya ukabila. I want to tell you, you will never lead anybody in this country.”

Gachagua, on his part, told a team that visited his DCP offices in Nairobi, where he received Millicent Omanga, that President Ruto had lost his cool and was no longer presidential.

“Wewe sasa umekuja mahali mimi nilikuwa nakutaka… sasa kaa hapo," Gachagua said.

The DCP leader claimed the President’s outbursts against opposition leaders were linked to failed business dealings.

“The President has gone berserk… he has lost his cool ni kwa sababu ya biashara. Alikuwa alipwe Sh7 billion ya Nairobi Railways… we are telling this to the British who were giving us the grants," stated Ruto.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who was in Kilifi County for a tour of development projects, told off opposition leaders and warned them against continued attacks on the President.

“Wale majamaa wakati walikuwa na Rais walishindwa kumsaidia kazi. Badala yake walikuwa wanatoboa mashimo kwa serikali ili merikebu izame waende wasiende…” DP noted.