We now know our true friends, says Deputy President William Ruto

By DPPS

Kenya: The decision by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to reject the deferral of Kenyan cases in The Hague dominated rallies with Deputy President William Ruto saying he was not surprised by the decision.

Mr Ruto, who described the resolution as a side issue, said it was clear testimony of who true friends of Kenya were.

“We are saying what happened yesterday is clear testimony of genuine friends who can stand with us when it is shining or raining. We thank them for standing with us. We have a plan...we will work and endure any difficulties.”

He added: “They say adversity is the mother of invention. We will sort out these things as they are side issues.”

“We can now say we have genuine, legitimate and consistent friends. We can now work with them and the rest of world to ensure there is peace in our region and country.”

Mr Ruto, who was accompanied by more than 40 MPs, spoke at a thanksgiving ceremony of Bureti MP Leonard Sang, at Litein East School.

The same subject also featured in two rallies in Bomet and Transmara, where the Deputy President attended other thanksgiving services.

Ruto said neither him nor the President were shaken by the resolution as they were sure they would triumph.

The MPs allied to the Jubilee Alliance castigated countries that blocked the deferral of cases involving the President and the Deputy President.

Angered

The MPs present said it was a clear signal that the eight countries that abstained were not friends of Kenya.

The MPs said they were angered by mainly the US, Britain and France who pretended to be Kenya’s friends and promised to review friendship with countries that abstained thereby forcing the deferral to fail.

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto also attended the meeting where Duale claimed that the ICC cases were the brainchild of some local politicians and some from the international community.

“Why didn’t the US, UK and France just oppose the deferral because that is what was their intention anyway?”

The Majority Leader asked African government’s to do business with those who backed the deferral like China and Russia.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said: “How do you abstain and claim that you are a friend of Kenya?”

He said Kenya should rethink its friendship based on the UNSC resolution, because the ICC cases were meant to belittle the President and the Deputy President.

Nairobi’s Women Representative Rachael Shebesh said Kenya faced terror attacks because of being a US ally, which did not support the deferral.  “We fight terror because of the US. That’s why we are bitter, because if you abstain from a vote you are a coward. They should have voted because we know where their stand is,” she said.

The Deputy President said the Government would deliver on its election pledges and urged leaders to stop politicking and serve Kenyans.

“We do not want politics squabbles; we want to serve Kenyans,” the deputy president said.

Most of the leaders who spoke said the President and the Deputy President would triumph in the end.