This archive report was first published on 21 April 2020.
On April 20, 2020, Moses Kuria took to Facebook to express his concerns about the treatment of Deputy President William Ruto. In a post that has sparked debate, Kuria claimed that Ruto is being mistreated by individuals who claim to be human but are, in fact, heartless.
“Dear my friend DP William Ruto, ile madharau wanakufanyia Mungu atakulipa mara elfu moja. No human being that I know can endure what you are going through. “But I believe that God is using you to teach all of us a lesson that we live in the midst of heartless animals who masquerade as human beings,” Kuria said.
So, what is William Ruto going through? The answer lies in the events of March 9, 2018, when President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga met at Harambee House for the symbolic handshake that sealed Ruto's fate as the opposition leader. Following the handshake, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations launched a crackdown on Ruto's allies in key agencies, charging them with frivolous corruption charges.
At least 7 senior Kalenjin managers have been charged in court over corruption, but none have been found guilty. They remain out of work, a testament to the challenges Ruto faces. The DCI's actions were not limited to Ruto's allies; they also targeted governors and Cabinet Secretaries close to the DP, resulting in the sacking or ouster of three CSs and three governors.
With his foot soldiers in panic mode, the enemies have directed their attacks at the DP himself. A local daily described Ruto as a man holding a big office with no power, with CSs not picking his calls and security agencies having no time for him. Ruto was also sidelined in the preparation of Mzee Moi's burial in February and has been an outsider as the government tackles the COVID-19 crisis.
