Deputy President William Ruto hits out at opposition over ICC cases

William Ruto           PHOTO:COURTESY

By Francis Mulinya

Deputy President William Ruto  has hit out at the opposition for fanning the narrative about the cases  facing him and President  Uhuru Kenyatta at the International Criminal Court(ICC) in the Hague  with the intention of  assuming   power  in the country.

The Deputy President  made  it clear that they will effectively  run the affairs of this country  while  also facing the challenges of managing  issues  arising out  of the 2007-2008 post election violence, adding that anyone hoping to benefit from their predicament will be disappointed.

The Deputy President was speaking at the ACK St. Mathew Rituta West , Nairobi where he joined the congregation  for a Sunday service and concentration of the newly build church  which was performed by  the Bishop of  Mt. Kenya South  the Rt. Rev. Timothy Ranji.

Mr. Ruto  charged that the opposition was  responsible for the  articles  appearing  in the press   which predicted  gloom and  doom  at the Hague  saying  it was unfortunate that those who lost in the last general elections were still entertaining the idea of leading this country.

He said, “I want to make it very clear that there is only one government led by Uhuru Kenyatta  and  it will deliver to the people of Kenya despite the challenges facing us.”  And added  “ those writing negative articles in the newspapers  are people who could not believe that the  Jubilee coalition could  form the government and are  still entertaining the idea of  ascending to power  using all means including  the negative narrative in the media.”

He went on to say that unlike the last coalition government which was  headed by former President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga , the jubilee government was stable and  was fully in charge of the country. “ This is not a government of ‘nusu mkate,’    Jubilee  has the full mandate of the Kenyan people to lead this country.” he added.

The Chairman of the National Alliance(TNA) who is also a nominated MP Johnson Sakaja  said at a recent meeting of  the party’s Parliamentary group meeting  it was resolved that the President should not go to the Hague for his case in February.

Noting  that  that  did not mean non compliance with the ICC, Mr. Sakaja pointed out that the President could  attend to the Hague cases through a video link so that he can also perform his constitutional duties as head of State.

Nairobi Senator Mike Mbuvi Sonko  criticized members of the United Nations Security Council who did not support the African Union cause of deferral of the cases facing President Uhuru and his Deputy Ruto,  terming them traitors who should not be forgiven for the treachery  they committed  at the UN security council meeting on Friday by choosing to abstain from voting in  support of  the AU resolution.

Kirinyaga Governor Joseph Ndathi said the leadership of this country is intertwined with the fate of the two leaders  adding that the two cannot be separated. He called for prayers for the two leaders  to overcome their tribulations  with the ICC cases.

Similar sentiments were echoed by  Kiambu senator Kimani  Wamatangi ,Nairobi women representative Rachel Shebesh, area MP Dennis Kibue  who  called for prayers for the two leaders to overcome  their  troubles. The Deputy President was accompanied by more than twenty members of Parliament.