Orange Democratic party have warned Deputy President William Ruto against throwing tirade at opposition leader Raila Odinga.
This comes after DP Ruto on Sunday lashed out at Mr. Odinga, accusing him of having a plan to wreck the Jubilee Party. Mr. Ruto further accused the ODM Party leader of taking advantage of the unity deal with President Uhuru Kenyatta to further his personal political agenda.
Junet Mohammed on DP Ruto: It will take William Ruto another 50 years to achieve what Raila has achieved politically in this country- If he continues with the name-calling, we know what he is and we are going to tell Kenyans what he is! pic.twitter.com/BghjYfGWJJ
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) October 1, 2018
Speaking to the press on Monday in Nairobi, Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed and Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho urged the Deputy President to respect Mr. Odinga, saying the DP is not the former premier’s political equal.
“Let him not call Raila names like conman, Raila is not his equal. Raila is a statesman and it will take William Ruto another 50 years to achieve what Raila has achieved as a person politically in this country, so we demand from him respect if he is to be respected as a Deputy President,” said Junet.
The legislator, who also doubles up as the Minority Chief Whip in the National Assembly, also asked Mr. Ruto to avoid talking about the handshake between President Kenyatta and Mr. Odinga as “he was not a party to it.”
Junet further rubbished claims that the DP was kicked out of the ODM party, instead said Ruto left the Orange party on his own volition.
“We didn’t chase him away from URP, he left on his own; we didn’t chase him away from UDM, he left on his own; we didn’t chase him away from KANU where he was the Secretary General, he left on his own; we didn’t chase him from ODM, he left on his own,” said the Suna East MP.
“… and most likely he’s planning to leave Jubilee on his own very soon because the way he’s talking looks like somebody who is on his way out. Let him not look for scapegoats when he has decided it is time for him to leave because it is normal for him to leave parties.”
Viongozi wa ODM wamsuta William Ruto. Joho na Junet wasema Ruto amekosa heshima kwa kinara wao Raila Odinga #SemaNaCitizen pic.twitter.com/ZhsuuNiw5U
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) October 1, 2018
He further stated: “We are not chasing him from anywhere, he’s running away from his shadow… his shadow is what is chasing him away.”
Governor Joho, on his part, dissuaded DP Ruto from “running around” only one year after the General Election, further accusing the deputy president of causing division in the country.
“He is going around the country preparing a platform in a case where we’re going for referendum or constitutional amendments, so that he can oppose it,” said Joho.
“How do you call Raila Odinga a conman? What do you have to be conned? If it’s about political strength then you cannot compare Raila Odinga with William Ruto. William Ruto is at our level, and you will see the dust we will show him.”
National Super Alliance (NASA) CEO Norman Magaya, taking to Twitter, declared war on Ruto saying “we are ready and set for a full blown war with you. We will battle you in all spheres and defeat you.”