Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua has warned residents in the Rift Valley region against disrespecting President William Ruto.
Speaking in Nandi County, on Sunday, March 17, the DP said he was disappointed by the group that interrupted Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok’s speech by heckling in the presence of President Ruto.
“I was very embarrassed in Bomet when the president had to spend more 30 minutes trying to bring down tensions and political rivalry among leader instead of focusing on development projects,” he said.
Gachagua explained that Ruto holds an important seat, and that he should not be reduced to solving political differences among local leaders.
“Do not take the presidency for granted, I am seeing you have started playing with this seat,” Gachagaua said.
“If the president came to his home county to launch development projects, then you lower him from his standards to the extent that he has to tell people to stop heckling and solving small political differences. What has happened to you Rift Valley residents? Have you forgotten where you came from?”
Besides, the DP wondered why the president is only disrespected in his home county but welcomed and respected in other counties.
According to the DP, the Rift Valley counties should lead by example and make other parts of the country respect Ruto.
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DP Concerned about Heckling Witnessed in Bomet
Gachagua explained that the president is respected in Africa and across the world and therefore should not be embarrassed by his own people.
“He has been invited by the president of America for a state visit in May. He has gained international respect, and he is only disrespected and embarrassed in his home counties. What is wrong with you, my people?” he asked.
The DP referenced the situation where he warned Mt Kenya residents against heckling Ruto during his previous tour to the region.
“I was with the president is Kiambu and my people tried disrespecting him, I warned them, and they have not repeated it,” he said.
He urged the Kalenjin nation to respect the president, emphasizing that such respect would foster reciprocal respect from others.
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Gachagua tells Kalenjin to Respect the President
The DP indicated his plan to engage local leaders to understand the root causes of the embarrassment caused to the president in his own region.
“How do we expect the president to be respected by the rest of Kenya, by Africa and the rest of the world when we expose our dirty linen in front of him,” Gachagua posed.
In his speech, Gachagua further cautioned against engaging in divisive politics and orchestrating disruptions during presidential events, which he believed hindered progress.
He asserted that the scenes witnessed in Bomet should not recur during the ten-year tenure of Ruto’s presidency.
He also acknowledged the developmental setbacks experienced in the five years following the handshake and emphasized the need to seize opportunities now.
“Now that you have your government, this is the time when you should “milk” and benefit. But if you bring divisive politics with leaders paying hecklers and the president is seated nothing can go on,” he said.
