This archive report was first published on 22 November 2019.
On November 22, 2019, Deputy President William Ruto and his Tanga Tanga brigade held a thanksgiving rally at the Bomas of Kenya to appreciate the people of Kibra for voting for McDonald Mariga in the recent by-election.
However, the rally was poorly attended, with only a small pocket of people showing up, a stark contrast to the previous rallies held in the area.
Separately, Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter has mocked the Tanga Tanga faction of Jubilee following their defeat in the Kibra by-election.
DP Ruto had invested heavily in the constituency, targeting to trim ODM leader Raila Odinga's influence, but ultimately lost to Imran Okoth of ODM.
After the polls, Ruto accused ODM of sponsoring violence, a claim which the opposition denied.
There were also claims that Ruto refused to meet agents after the defeat.
However, in a message allegedly from DP Ruto, all Jubilee MPs allied to his team were invited to a thanksgiving lunch at Bomas of Kenya on Friday.
“Mheshimiwa, I wish to invite you for a thanksgiving lunch (for your selfless contributions in Kibra poll), at Bomas of Kenya today (Friday),” the message sent to MPs indicated.
Keter claimed that Ruto had now conceded defeat in Kibra poll, mocking the Tanga Tanga brigade that they 'could now afford to be excited'.
“My colleagues in the Tangatanga group were very excited this morning. This comes after two weeks of sleepless nights, it seems their “boss” has accepted and moved on I am very happy for them,” Keter said.
