A day after government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna cautioned a group of politicians led by Suna East MP Junet Mohamed against issuing statements that could threaten the peace of Kenyans, the outspoken Azimio La Umoja Secretary-General has simply refused to tone down his emotive remarks.
On Tuesday, August, 2, the National Assembly Minority Whip found himself on the wrong side of angry netizens who called him out for intentionally posting a manipulated video meant to mislead the public as the election day scheduled for August 9th nears.
The 39-second clip which captured Deputy President William Ruto addressing a rally in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, contained a part with wrongly translated subtitles meant to make it look like the Kenya Kwanza principal was fueling hate and violence against the Kikuyu community in his native Kalenjin language.
“Madharau na Vitisho ya watu wa Central, Western na Nyanza the Tarehe Tisa mwezi huu! What a shame for a Deputy president of a county of many communities to speak like this,” Junet tweeted.
https://twitter.com/JunetMohamed/status/1554415380440948736?s=20&t=ydwvNu1GfHaKpl5SuC4tYQ
The same clip was also shared by his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party counterpart, Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho.
“Completely unacceptable! It is just not right. This is now dangerous. Someone remind Ruto that Kenya is a country for all of us. Live where you want and vote your choice freely. This is exactly why we need Azimio la Umoja,” the influential Coast politician wrote.
https://twitter.com/HassanAliJoho/status/1554418584478253057?s=20&t=ydwvNu1GfHaKpl5SuC4tYQ
Unfortunately for the duo, Kenyans on Twitter were quick to dismiss their videos as cheap propaganda meant to incite within the politically volatile region.
In the original video clip from Monday’s rally, the DP retaliated his commitment to peaceful polls on August 9th and urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to rein in officials in the Fred Matiang’i-led Ministry of Interior to avert an escalation that could plunge the country into chaos.
DP Ruto appealed to the police officers to only focus on their constitutional mandate and steer clear of politics.
“You will not take us back. That dream of wanting to cause violence among our people will not succeed. We will not allow our people to fight because of politics,” he noted.
He further appealed to his supporters not to fall for provocation, exuding confidence that their votes will hand him a decisive win.
“I want to ask every supporter of Kenya Kwanza, please do not accept to be provoked in any manner. Violence cannot be part of the equation in this election. We are asking every Kenyan to campaign and vote peacefully.”
“We have already defeated our competitors and the only armoury they have now is to cause disharmony and violence because they know we have the votes,” he added.
The message from @WilliamsRuto in Eldoret. Peace peace peace. pic.twitter.com/RMYtmiTVPB
— Kipruto Lagat 🐘🐘🐘 (@ArapTilingi) August 1, 2022
Ruto made the remarks a day after Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho revealed that the government was aware of leaflets containing warnings targeted at the electorate in certain areas.
When condemning Junet and Joho’s actions, some of the angry tweeps called for the mass reporting of the two politicians’ social media accounts in order for the American platform based in San Francisco, California, to take action on their hatemongering.
Below is what some of them had to say.
This blog strong denounces these actions and joins fellow straight-thinking Kenyans in calling for an end to the chaos and tumult that has long been incited by Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in favour of a calm and peaceful transfer of power to the incoming William Ruto administration when he takes the day next Tuesday.
