Deputy President William Ruto has apologised to Kenyans over remarks made by Meru Senator Mithika Linturi in Eldoret last week when he described those opposed to Dr Ruto’s presidential bid as ‘madoadoa’ (stains) whom he said must be ejected.
DP Ruto apologises over Linturi’s ‘madoadoa’ remarks
DP Ruto apologised on Monday during a rally at the Bomet Green Stadium in Bomet County and warned his Tangatanga brigade to desist from hate-mongering.
The deputy president also asked state security agencies, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission as well as the Director of Public Prosecutions to impartially deal with all hate-mongers across the political divide so as to ensure a safe election.
"As we approach the August general election, I want to tell members of my team — the Hustler nation — that all of us must mind our language;, all of must be careful about what we say so that we can unite this country because that is what the United Democratic Alliance believes in,” he said.
Dr Ruto sought to rein on his troops to avoid inflammatory statements in all public meetings as President Uhuru Kenyatta succession politics heats up.
DP Ruto, at the same time, urged his competitors to follow suit in ensuring the taming of inflammatory statements.
The DP said that relevant government institutions should ensure the law on hate speech and incitement is applied across board without bias.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the agencies charged with security and ensuring we have a peaceful election must apply the law in a manner that does not create two sets of laws for two sets of groups,” DP Ruto stated.
“We want every inciter in Kenya, whether they belong to UDA or the other side, to face the full force of the law so that we can secure our nation,” he added.
Mr Linturi made the ‘madoadoa’ remarks during DP Ruto’s rally in Uasin Gishu, immediately raising eyebrows as the area was the epicentre of the post-election violence that killed hundreds of people following the disputed general elections held in December 2007.
Various political and church leaders from across the country have since condemned the remarks, asking key players in this year's polls to be sensitive about their language to avoid balkanising the country along tribal lines.
While reacting Mr Linturi’s remarks, ODM leader Raila Odinga Sunday spoke against politics of discrimination, warning that it risks tearing apart the country’s social fabric.
“We cannot continue profiling people as 'kwekwe' (weeds) and 'madoadoa. We cannot afford to go back where we came from,” Mr Odinga said.
Following the deadly 2007-2008 post-poll chaos, reports by the Kriegler and Waki Commissions, which investigated the violence, revealed that the word ‘madoadoa’, an emotive phrase, was used as a code to profile communities targeted for violent evictions from the Rift Valley.
Mr Linturi’s remarks attracted the ire of Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin haji, who accused the Meru senator of hate speech.
