DP Ruto Vows to Name and Shame Gov’t Officials Fighting Him
Deputy President William Ruto on Sunday threatened to name and shame government officials who are being used to undermine him and blackmail leaders allied to him.
Ruto, who spoke during a church function in Meru County, accused unnamed civil servants of using the criminal justice system to threaten some Governors, MPs, and MCAs into withdrawing their support for him.
"We live in a democratic nation as Kenya and citizens, leaders, public officers should have the opportunity to make choices that they have decided on their own.”
"To try and use the criminal justice system to perpetuate a certain political agenda or narrative is in itself criminal. I want to say for the avoidance of doubt, leaders in Kenya today, MPs and MCAs are being treated to intimidation, blackmail, threats that they will be taken to this court or that court because of their political affiliation. When did Kenya sink that low?" Ruto posed.
A visibly infuriated Ruto vowed to call out the specific government officials behind the scheme if they fail to shun the behavior.
"These public servants in our offices should work in accordance with what their job description is. They should not be using the criminal justice system to try and achieve political ends to intimidate, blackmail and intimidate people that this will happen and that will happen.”
"I am the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, elected by the people of Kenya. And I have no apologies to make to anybody. I want to tell those public officers using those offices that soon, very soon, we will call them out. They must stop the nonsense they are engaged in making telephone calls to leaders, blackmailing people left, right and center," Ruto asserted.
Ruto spoke after a section of leaders supporting him including Meru Senator Mithika Linturi, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and his Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wah claimed they were receiving threatening phone calls from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Kenya Revenue Authority, the Ethics, and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Judiciary.