Kindiki Vows to Counter Critics Labelling Ruto ‘Unpresidential’

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has warned President William Ruto’s political critics against issuing personal attacks and instead focus on presenting their own political agendas to Kenyans.

Speaking in Bomet on Wednesday, March 18, Kindiki argued that many of those calling the President ‘unpresidential’ had spent more time insulting him than offering constructive ideas.

He noted that it was unfair to demand Ruto behave in a presidential manner while at the same time demeaning both his office and its occupants.

“I have seen some people saying that President Ruto should be the presidential. I want to tell you people, you have used all your time to insult President Ruto, you don’t want to tell Kenyans what your agenda is,” Kindiki stated.

“Instead of selling your agenda to Kenyans, you have used all your time to insult him. Before you start demanding that President Ruto act presidential, have you treated him in a presidential manner?” he posed.

While terming the criticism as unfair, Kindiki argued that previous Heads of State like Uhuru Kenyatta and Mwai Kibaki were not subjected to similar attacks like the “one-term” chant.

“Those lecturing Ruto should stop immediately. Why didn’t they shout to Uhuru Kenyatta ‘one term’ or even Kibaki? We cannot have a perfect president. He is also a human being like us,” Kinidki said.

Kindiki further warned that continued insults and personal attacks against Ruto would not be ignored, stating that he would personally handle such behaviour.

The warning comes in the wake of heated political exchanges involving Ruto and a section of opposition politicians who openly engaged in public insults that quickly drew nationwide attention.

The confrontation began when former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua made remarks widely viewed as body-shaming the President, who responded with equally strong language, accusing critics of tribalism and hatred.

It escalated further with Ruto accusing unnamed individuals of theft and murder, with the Head of State also commenting about the physical appearances and lifestyles of some of his critics.

The incident sparked nationwide debate about presidential conduct and political ethics, with some arguing that he had fallen into the opposition’s rage bait.