Kisii Senator Onyonka snub president Ruto in dinner invitation at Kisii State Lodge, cite abductions and graft claims
Independent minded and laser-sharp tongue Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has said that he will give president William Ruto’s New Year’s eve state dinner invitation a wide berth at the Kisii State Lodge in protest to the president’s leadership style.
In a quick dispatch to newsrooms, Onyonka criticised the government for failing to address abductions, corruption, and human rights violations.
He further called the year ‘tumultuous and painful’ for many Kenyans.
“We are ending our year at a very low end! Kenyans have asked, begged, and pleaded with president Ruto to which he has given a deaf ear! Fidelity to our constitution is paramount to all Kenyans. We have always expected and hoped that the president would uphold the rule of law, but this has failed.” Onyonka said.
According to the fiery SAenator, most Kenyans have had a difficult year in 2024, especially those who have been leading the opposition against president Ruto’s administration.
“Therefore, because of my deeply held views on these issues, I will not be attending the State New Year – Eve Dinner at the Kisii State Lodge, on the evening of Tuesday, 31st December 2024, in my capacity as the Senator of Kisii county.” Onyonka added.
Instead, he pledged to Kenyan families who are in excruciating suffering as they search for loved ones whose whereabouts are still unknown.
“I’m uncomfortable with the idea that some of us will be normal, happy and excited with color and pomp when other Kenyan families are agonizing in pain looking for their loved ones to share during this season, but in vain.” He added.
The lawmaker urged president Ruto to put an immediate end to the continuous kidnappings, claiming that his administration has not taken full responsibility for the increasing number of abductions that the nation is experiencing.
Among those reported as missing include Bill Mwangi, Peter Muteti Njeru, Bernard Kavuli, Gideon Kibet (also known as Kibet Bull), and his brother Ronny Kiplagat.
The seven missing individuals were allegedly taken by unidentified persons.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) further condemned president Ruto’s recent “confession” to orchestrating abductions of dissenting voices in the country.
The commission described the revelation as a “damning admission” and warned that it further exposes Ruto’s “unfitness for public office,” equating such actions to tyranny rather than democratic governance.
“We demand the immediate release of all abducted Kenyans under Ruto’s command who are being held in undisclosed locations.” The commission said.
Today, a Nairobi court has rejected an application by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to have 23 anti-abduction protesters led by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah detained for 14 days following their arrest during yesterday’s demonstrations in Nairobi.
Instead, Milimani Principal Magistrate Rose Ndombi granted them Sh1,000 cash bail up or an alternative bond of Sh50,000 and declined to have them detained noting that and ruled that the nature of offences does not warrant detention.
Ndombi said the state’s application does not disclose compelling reasons to warrant the detention of the activists and granted them a cash bail of Sh1,000 each.
Onyonka has been critical of the Kenya Kwanza administration including exposing controversial government projects widely interpreted as budgeted corruption notably the cancelled Adani Group Public Private Partnership energy and JKIA deals.
