The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential flagbearer Deputy President William Ruto tour of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Gatundu South home ignited uproar after Gatundu MP Moses Kuria launched a blistering attack on Kenyatta for supporting Raila Odinga of Azimio La Umoja.
Kuria stated that this violates an oath signed in 1969 by Gatundu elders, including Kenyatta’s father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
“The President may bring a curse to his family by deciding to go against the oath in which the elders vowed never to support or vote for an uncircumcised man,” said Kuria in a statement that attracted condemnation in social media platforms.
Kuria, who is the Chama Cha Kazi leader and an aspirant for the Kiambu governorship, has since attempted to beat a retreat through his Facebook page in which he says his critics should not crucify him over the remarks.
“For the record I was not yet born in 1969. However, I keep receiving accounts from people who partook in the #IchaweriOath wondering what to do. Capt. Kung’u Muigai raised the same issue recently and he didn’t get the condemnation I am getting,” he said.
Ruto recounted that during the two terms he and Kenyatta ran for re-election, they constantly asked for Gatundu voters’ blessings, prayers and support, especially Mama Ngina Kenyatta’s.
Locals were concerned about eviction plans and sought the DP to intervene.
Margaret Njeri Mubuu led a group of people who begged Ruto to help them stop the National Land Commission (NLC) from evicting them from their ancestral land to make way for the expansion of a university.
“Our Deputy President, we have been having a problem here that is making us cry every day. The government has been planning to forcefully evict us from our ancestral land where we have buried our loved ones. Please help us stop this plan,” she said.
The elderly woman said that they only know Mutomo as their home and relocating them will result in emotional and psychological problems that may end up killing them.
He wrote on his social media page, “Why crucify me.”
Ruto, who was joined by fellow Kenya Kwanza co-principals Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula, as well as other leaders, made a passionate plea to Kenyatta to withdraw his support for Raila.
“With a lot of humility, I am sending you the people of Gatundu with a message to my friend and brother President Kenyatta to remember how far we have come together.
Tell him to vacate the political battle between me and Raila,” the DP said at Mutomo village a stone’s throw away from Kenyatta’s Ichaweri rural home.