An ODM MP has revealed why Deputy President William Ruto refused to snake his way through Kibra on Sunday but for a chopper and heavily-armed security personnel.
DP Ruto touched down at Lindi Grounds on Sunday to a rousing welcome but his critics have come to note that the DP flew out of fear of the people.
Speaking during a morning show on NTV’s AM Live, Rarieda Mp Otiende Amollo revealed that Ruto feared backlash from Kibra residents after he openly challenged ODM’s candidate Bernard Okoth by fronting Jubilee’s McDonald Mariga.
“If they were so confident, why didn’t the DP snake his way through Kibra the way we did, why come flying? It’s because he is fearful, they don’t have supporters there, the few that they have to bring could not protect them.” – Otiende Amollo
While at the rally, the DP was surrounded by a multitude of plain-clothes policemen as well as a host of other mean-looking officers with sophisticated weapons.
If they were so confident, why didn't the DP snake his way through Kibra the way we did, why come flying? It's because he is fearful, they don't have supporters there, the few that they have to bring could not protect them. – Otiende Amollo #AMLiveNTV @debarlinea pic.twitter.com/Ckf7qsQepL
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) October 29, 2019
“Kibra will never remain a hotbed of violence, a slum, a place synonymous with poverty. We will never be lied to again,” Ruto stated during the tour.
The move would attract reactions from a section of politicians and netizens with some saying Dr Ruto was being paranoid.
How Ruto was campaigning for Mariga in Kibra today, He Mobilized even Recee Squad , you would be tempted to imagine he was campaigning in Kismayu #KibraConfirmation pic.twitter.com/lRzG9uTIlH
— Charles Mark Dienya (@MarkDienya) October 27, 2019
Weighing in on the matter, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed criticised the presence of the specialised police units in the Kibra rally.
This is how Ruto was guarded and came to ask for votes today in kibra and then you lie to people ground iko Sawa. Kibra is ODM and ODM is kibra . pic.twitter.com/XeeL3FDdc5
— Hon. Junet Mohamed (@JunetMohamed) October 27, 2019
This came weeks after Jubilee candidate McDonald Mariga had his convoy pelted with stones as he campaigned in Kibra.
Mariga would go ahead to complain to the IEBC to take action against his main competitor Bernard ‘Imran’ Okoth over the violence.
DP Ruto Yesterday at Kibra constituency . Watch how people are going crazy. #HuslerNation is unstoppable. #Mariga17 #KibraConfirmation #KibraByelection #HustleYangu . pic.twitter.com/est49KizLh
— Enoch Cheruiyot (@EnochCheruiyot5) October 28, 2019
Last Sunday, however, wasn’t devoid of tension as two factions allied to ODM and ANC battled over who should hold a rally at Kamukunji grounds. ANC candidate Eliud Owalo and Musalia Mudavadi were forced to scamper for safety as the crowd started pelting their convoy with stones.
Similar fracas was witnessed when ODM supporters also clashed with Ford Kenya as the two sides haggled about who was to hold a rally at Bikhungu stadium.