'Mtajua Hamjui,' President Ruto promises gov't intervention ahead of planned Azimio protests

President William Ruto has vowed to use all powers at his disposal to ensure that the planned Azimio protests, slated for Tuesday next week, do not deteriorate into chaos and violence.

Ruto's sentiments follow Azimio la Umoja Coalition's move to resume the nationwide protests over what the party's hierarchy has termed as Kenya Kwanza's failure to commit to holding constructive bipartisan talks.

Speaking in Malava, Kakamega County on Saturday, President Ruto underscored that he reached out to Azimio leader Raila Odinga in a bid to find an amicable solution to end the ongoing rift between the opposition and his government.

Despite his efforts, Ruto went on, Raila has seemingly rejected his grand gesture by directing his supporters to take part in the protests.

"Mimi niliwaambia ile wiki ingine; nikaita yule mzee wa kitendawili na nikamwambia wewe wacha hii maandamano tupeleke hii maneno yote unasema bunge; wabunge waangalie kama kuna maneno ya ukweli," said a visibly irked Ruto.

"Sasa ati wamekataa hiyo ya kwenda kuongea kwa amani kwa bunge. Ati wanataka kurudi maandamano. Ati waende wavunje mali na kuharibu biashara ya wananchi. Mimi ndio commander-in-chief. Nyinyi mtajua hamjui. Wawache hiyo mchezo."

While likening the Azimio protests to economic sabotage, Ruto added that his government's priority lies in bettering the lives of Kenyans and not being at loggerheads with the opposition.

"Mambo ya uchaguzi tulimaliza last year. Ile kazi imebaki sasa si ya viongozi; kazi imebaki ni maendeleo ya wananchi,"  he said.

"Hakuna mali au biashara ya wananchi itaharibika tena. Serikali ya Kenya itasimama imara kuhakikisha ya kwamba inalinda maisha na mali na biashara ya kila mwananchi."