Ruto Wanted to Slap Matiang'i and Me, Defense CS Eugene Wamalwa Claims

Defense Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa claims that Deputy President William Ruto wanted to slap him and Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i.

Wamalwa, who was speaking during an Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition campaign meeting in Kakamega on Saturday, said the incident happened following a meeting between President Kenyatta and leaders from the Western Kenya region in 2018.

He claimed that the deputy president was enraged because he was not consulted over the State House meeting, and demanded a resignation letter from him.

"We had a meeting with President Kenyatta in State House, we were there with my brothers from NASA including Musalia, Wetangula, Oparanya. We brought him to this stadium where he chose Oparanya as the chair of the Revival taskforce of the sugar sector," Wamalwa recounted.

“The DP was very furious asking why I took the Luhya leaders to the president without his consent. He told me to leave his government and deliver a resignation. Karibu nipate slap ya huyo jamaa. Lakini angeteleza iniguze ningempa uppercut moja.” 

Wamalwa further claimed that Ruto similarly wanted to assault CS Matiang'i after the launch of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) pilot program in Kisumu.

"He also wanted to slap Matiang'i. He was so angry with him when we went to Kisumu to unveil the UHC and upon returning to State House, he wanted to slap him. And there are witnesses," noted Wamalwa.

“I have forgiven the DP for the embarrassment he caused me. The incidents show that he cannot be trusted with leadership.” 

His allegations come on the backdrop of a leaked audio clip where Ruto admitted to nearly slapping President Kenyatta after their 2017 election victory was nullified by the Supreme Court following a petition by ODM leader Raila Odinga. This was after Kenyatta suggested he was ready to quit the race to defend his seat in the wake of the apex court ruling.

 “So, ndiyo huyo… Oh, sasa, hii maneno, sijui nini, mimi sitaki, mimi nataki kuenda Ichaweri, sasa mimi sitaki, wacha tuachane na hii kitu,” Ruto said in the leaked audio taken during a meeting with elders from Kikuyu community at his residence in Karen.

“Mimi nikamwangalia (Uhuru), nikamwambia ‘wewe’! Ni vile tu nilikua na heshima, ningemchapa kofi. Ati sisi tuache?”