Ruto is not mincing his words.
Speaking in Shanzu, Mombasa county, during the official opening of the first Inter-Professional Summit on Wednesday, March 20, Ruto disclosed the government had already embarked on a crackdown on people he claimed were ‘faking deaths’.
“There is a lot of fake news around what is happening in Kenya. For example, we were told the other day that 11 people have died. That is not true…from where I sit…from all the professionals that we have. In fact, the chief and the other fellow who faked death, we have taken them in for questioning,” the DP said.
Among those who may be under siege is Baringo MCA Nelson Lotela who alleged more than 17 people had died due to starvation, contrary to the government’s claims that no such deaths had been recorded.
“People have died. We wonder why the government is disputing reports on deaths resulting from hunger in Baringo. We have the names…we have the records. I am ready to take them to every homestead where death was reported,” Lotela said during the relief food distribution exercise in Tiaty constituency, Baringo county, on Tuesday.
Lotela accused the government of trying to keep statistics a secret and intimidating local leaders and chiefs from speaking to the media about the situation.
“Why are they disputing our reports yet the reports are correct? They (unnamed senior government officials) are even intimidating us and the local chiefs for giving the reports to the press,” the Ward Rep claimed.
The government, however, insisted no one had died because of drought and the resultant starvation in the country. Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa argued there was no evidence showing those who were reported dead were killed by hunger. Appearing on Citizen TV on Tuesday night, the CS accused local politicians of taking advantage of the situation and exaggerating everything about it.
“As of tonight, there is no death that has been verified as a direct cause of the drought. We cannot stop politicians from saying what they want to say. Allegations have been made but they have not been verified. We are working to ensure no life is lost. One life lost is a life too many,” he said.
Ruto, however, acknowledged, there was a problem in Kenya arguing only 16% of Kenya received adequate rainfall, with 84% being arid and semi-arid, making Kenya a generally water-stressed country.
“To be able to deal with matters to do with drought and manage food security, and ensure that we are not always in a crisis, there is the short term, but there must be the long term policy interventions,” the DP said.