Kenya Kwanza leaders blast Uhuru for snubbing Ruto on Madaraka Day

Leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza coalition have lashed out at President Uhuru Kenyatta for failing to recognize his deputy William Ruto during Wednesday's Madaraka Day Celebrations.

The leaders allied to the Deputy President accused the Head of State of undermining his deputy publicly during a State function in what some have termed as a violation of State protocol.

During the 59th Madaraka Day celebrations held at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, after the military showcase, general entertainment and state investiture were done, the president took over proceedings to deliver his speech contrary to the norm where the DP addresses the citizens before inviting his boss.

The move has sparked mixed reactions with leaders allied to the DP coming out guns-blazing to condemn the incident.

Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri termed the incident as historical and one that had never been witnessed in the country before, adding that it was divisive to the country.

“Siku ya leo ya Madaraka Day, Rais ameipindua kuwa ‘Madharau’ Day. Kiburi, chuki imepita kiasi yake; rais wetu remember you have one heart. The behaviour you are doing now is scaring Kenyans,” Ngunjiri said in a video message.

"Madharau umefanya siku ya leo haijafanyika kutoka independence, wakati wa baba yako haijafanyika… There is a God in heaven, ile madharau umefanyia deputy president wako na bibi yake mbele ya wananchi wa Kenya..."

Speaking in Kikuyu, Kiambu County where the Kenya Kwanza outfit had gone to watch a local football match, the leaders tore apart the president alleging that the contempt shown to their principal was reflected to all Kenyans.

Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula on his part censured the move by President Kenyatta as he compared him (Uhuru) with the event’s Chief Guest the President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio who in his opening remarks acknowledged deputy president William Ruto.

Wetangula expressed his dissension saying the president’s actions painted a bad image of the country’s leadership to the visitors.

“Katika muhula wake kama rais, pale Uhuru Gardens, you turned a hallowed national day into an Azimio campaign tool. It is amazing Mr President, that your guest the president of Sierra Leon could acknowledge the presence of your deputy president but you yourself couldn’t,” Wetangula said.

“It is a terrible shame, a blot to the integrity and the image of our country that a visitor from West Africa knows that Kenya has a deputy president but the president of Kenya does not know he has a deputy president."

Kiharu legislator Ndindi Nyoro weighed in to reiterate the disrespect saying that it would be the final event where DP Ruto had been sidelined.

He exuded confidence assuring the public that the August polls, would usher in a new government where the interests of Kenyans would be upheld.

“Deputy President tumeona ile madharau umefanyiwa pale siku ya leo. Tunataka tueleze wale wamefanya hio madharau ya kupangua protocol ya mipango ya kiserikali kama Madaraka Day, leo ni siku yenu ya mwisho ya kufanyia mahustler na Wakenya  =madharau,” Nyoro stated.

He added: "Ata kama rais wetu wa tano hajapewa nafasi aongee pale siku ya leo, wewe unapewa nafasi ya kuongoza wakenya wote from the August 9th… Kaeni na hiyo madharu yenu huko, Wakenya wamejipanga wachague Ruto kama rais wetu wa tano."