Why Jubilee MP Wants Raila to Apologize to Deputy President William Ruto

Nyeri Town Member of Parliament Ngunjiri Wambugu wants Opposition leader Raila Odinga to apologize to Deputy President William Ruto.

Wambugu said Odinga should offer an apology to the Deputy President over Monday attacks by a section of MPs from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

In a press briefing in Nairobi, the group declared Ruto the country's number one enemy. They also said the DP was a bitter man seeking revenge, and thus, should not be allowed to become President.

"We wish to advise Ruto to stop looking for enemies in the wrong places. In his quest to be president, Ruto is the enemy he is looking for. What stands between Ruto and the presidency is not His Excellency Raila Amolo Odinga. It is Ruto’s character, his bad record in office and the perceptions about him by the general public," the leaders, who included MPs Anthony Oluoch, Geoffrey Osotsi and Women Representatives Zulekha Juma Hassan (Kwale), Florence Mutua (Busia), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), said.

They further accused Ruto of blackmailing President Kenyatta and some communities into baking his 2022 presidential bid.

However, Wambugu said the personalized attacks on Ruto by the leaders were uncalled for and undermined the office of the Deputy President.

“William Ruto is the Deputy President of Kenya and Uhuru Kenyatta’s principal assistant. Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga are currently in a unity project together. This unity project requires mutual respect from all sides for it to become real to Kenyans," said Wambugu.

“Attacking the DP in such a personal way is unfortunate for a party that continues to insist that they respect Uhuru Kenyatta and the handshake between him and Raila. It’s also just the kind of thing that makes the ‘Building Bridges’ initiative a walking target for those who prefer war, to peace.”

“I therefore ask Raila Odinga as leader of ODM - in the spirit of the handshake - to apologize to William Ruto for that press statement by ODM and assure Kenyans that personal attacks will not be allowed going forward,” he said.