Leave Kenya, Go to Jail or Risk Death, Ruto Tells Bandits

Speaking on Thursday in Baringo North where he issued over 8,600 title deeds, President William Ruto warned armed criminals and anti-government protesters in the North Rift to stop causing chaos and allow for development.

The Head of State announced the deployment of 2,000 additional security officers to supplement the 3,000 that had been earlier deployed to the area. The President warned bandits to either reform and engage in development, flee the country, be jailed, or face death. To prevent students from dropping out of school due to attacks, the President announced plans to rebuild more than 44 vandalized schools with boarding facilities and provide food to boost enrollment and retention. Moreover, Dr. Ruto called upon the opposition to urge its MPs to go through Cabinet Secretaries in Parliament to present their grievances instead of holding anti-government protests.

The President welcomes the opposition to carry out their oversight role as mandated by the constitution. During his visit, he pledged to guarantee the implementation of stalled projects such as the Kirandich dam and the completion of critical infrastructure such as the Ainobmoi-Barwessa-Kinyach road. The President was joined by various local leaders where they negotiated the commencement of construction work on the Mogotio-Kisanana road. While in Nyandarua, the President emphasized that he is not seeking support but rather leading efforts to revive economy through key sectors focused on education, agriculture and cooperatives.

Dr Ruto insisted that he will not be making a political alliance with Raila Odinga and that a handshake would betray his voters. Dr Ruto also said that he will not allow the opposition to distract him from the country's development by protesting. He further attributed delayed projects to Odinga's role in the 2017 handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta, stating that funds were diverted away from important matters for the sake of BBI and other lower-priority issues.