Demonstrate, but don't destroy or burn property, President Uhuru warns

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto with pupils of Tala Boys Primary school in Tala, Machakos County, on 10/06/2016. PHOTO BY PSCU

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto yesterday traversed CORD co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka’s Ukambani stronghold.

Riding on the slow-uptake of the anti-IEBC demonstrations in the region, Ruto and Uhuru endorsed the right of Opposition to protest but issued a stern warning against violence and disturbance of peace through the demos. Kalonzo gave the tour a wide berth.

The President and his deputy flew in two military helicopter while several Jubilee-allied MPs flew in several other choppers. The delegation landed in Tala, Matuu and Masinga areas of Machakos County delivering and promising goodies.

From Tala where the tour began to Masinga where it ended late afternoon, the message from the President and his deputy to CORD leadership was the same: Come to the dialogue or demonstrate in the streets days on end.”

“They can go on and demonstrate, maandamano ni kazi pia. They should not however dare touch, torch or destroy other people’s property in the process otherwise they will pay dearly for it. They can sit on the roads till dusk and go home, we will watch them on TV in the evening,” President Uhuru said.

“You must be a big fool to try to hit a policeman with a stone. It’s like hitting a swarm of bees with a stone and hoping nothing will happen. I can assure you that they will retaliate but not with a stone, something else that will hurt you,” Uhuru said in Matuu town.

Ruto wasted no chance in the three stopovers to attack the Opposition. He said CORD leadership was all about “demonstrations, firimbi and violence”.

“Between electricity, water and roads and violence, demos and empty talk, what will you go for?” Ruto asked the area residents.

He claimed that the Opposition had been engaging Jubilee in “endless battles” since 2013: “They should know that there is time for everything and stop inciting Kenyans to violence.”

Machakos Governor and proponent of Maendeleo Chap Chap movement Alfred Mutua was the host and was accompanied by MPs associated with him, among them Vincent Musau, Regina Ndambuki, Victor Munyaka, Itwiku Mbai and former MP Kalembe Ndile.

Yatta MP Francis Mwangangi, who is neither allied to Mutua nor Kalonzo, was in the tour as were Wiper MPs Joe Mutambo, Richard Makenga, John Munuve and Kisoi Munyao.

“Here in Ukambani, we do not throw stones. Instead we sell them as hardcore for construction. We do not burn tyres, we use them to make shoes. We are saddened when they burn tyres. As they stroll around the streets, we will continue registering voters to boost our numbers,” Mutua said. For the first time in Ukambani, Mutua endorsed Uhuru and Ruto for re-election telling area residents that the pair cannot possibly be defeated in 2017. “Look at him, he is here. He is not only young, he is also handsome.

He has given us everything despite rejecting him in 2013. Do you want us to respond in kind or do you want us to continue the old song of pata potea?” Mutua asked in Masinga.

In Matuu, Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko asked Kalonzo to join Jubilee and work his way to the top from there. He said if he did so, Kambas would have a better chance of succeeding the Ruto presidency after 2032. In Masinga, Sonko described CORD as a “teargas coalition” which cannot do any good to the country.

At the forum, Uhuru jokingly challenged Sonko to speak to the residents in their mother-tongue but the Nairobi Senator shied off. In all the stops, he only managed to pass greetings in Kikamba after which he switched to Kiswahili.

In Tala where security blocked the main road as he addressed residents, the President condemned what he called “outdated politics of division and hatred”. He challenged the CORD leadership to name its team to negotiate with Jubilee team on the matter of IEBC.

In Tala, the President launched the construction of Tala-Ol Donyo Sabuk Road. In Yatta, he inspected the rehabilitation of the Yatta canal. In Masinga, he launched a water project.

Area MPs demanded more from the President and his government. In Matuu, area MP Mwangangi asked the government to help in cleaning up the heavily-polluted Athi River to enable his constituents to benefit more from its waters.

“We also want more appointments in government. You have tried but you can do better. We have no problem working with you because our people are benefiting,” Mwangangi said.

The MP also threatened to kick out the contractor doing the canal over delayed works but the President saved them. Uhuru said if they will not have finished and handed over the channel by December, they will be blacklisted and will never do any other work in Kenya.

In Masinga, area MP Mbai asked for the faster issuance of title deeds, tarmacking of Masinga-Kaewa Road and a bridge to connect Ndithini and Masinga. Uhuru instructed the area County Commissioner to immediately work on the title deed issue.

“This is the third time I am hearing a complaint on issuance of titles in this county. We cannot go on like this. Bwana County Commissioner, I do not want to hear this anymore. I want you to get together with National Lands Commission and sort this out once and for all,” Uhuru said.  Uhuru announced that he had set aside Sh8 billion to rehabilitate roads in Machakos and Sh1.2 billion for Masinga water project. Water and Irrigation CS Eugene Wamalwa said an additional Sh2.9 billion worth of water projects deal would be signed in Brussels next week between President Kenyatta and the Belgian government.  He said the project would benefit Mavoko but also spill over to Yatta and Masinga areas. The President is expected to tour Kitui County today.