DP William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga are great political enemies and neither has ever spoken well of the other for a long time.
Things have been worse ever since Raila united with President Uhuru Kenyatta, a move that saw Ruto get secluded in government and even his duties and responsibilities handed to Interior CS Fred Matiang’i.
For the past 4 years Ruto has just been in office by name and not in action and the rift between him and the head of state has grown rapidly.
In his political rallies, Ruto has called Raila a man of Kitendawili, a witchdoctor among other unpleasant names while on the other hand Raila refers to him as a corrupt leader. He has accused him of stealing public funds and resources to fund his campaigns and make contributions(harambee) in places he visits.
On Friday however, DP Ruto set aside the enmity between them and condemned incidents that occurred while Raila was campaigning in his(Ruto’s) political stronghold.
Ruto said that politicians had the right to campaign anywhere within the country without facing hostility since that jeopardizes the country’s democracy.
“Every politician has the right to sell their agenda in every part of the country. We should listen, evaluate their policies and then decide whom to support. Political violence is retrogressive, divisive and tears down our democracy. We condemn and reject it without reservation,” Ruto said on Twitter.
Raila faced hostility while in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet and after the burial of the renown chairman of men’s conference Mzee Jackson Kibor.
In Iten, the crowd was not willing to listen to the leader and they were shouting Ruto and UDA forcing Raila to cut short his campaigns and leave for safety.
During the burial of Kibor in Soy, Raila’s chopper was pelted with stones, causing its windscreen to break and according to Junet Mohamed, they had to seek a different means of transport.
Ruto faced a similar circumstance while campaigning in Kondele, Kisumu county last year in November last year
His entourage was stoned leaving his campaign vehicles with broken windows.
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