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Stop the disrespect, Ruto tells hecklers in Meru

By Lucy Mumbi | Friday, January 26, 2024

The crowd interrupted Ruto and other leaders' addresses as they toured Meru County, one of the strongholds of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

President William Ruto on Friday fired a warning shot at Meru County residents who heckled as he and other leaders delivered their speeches, saying he would no longer tolerate the disrespect.

The crowd interrupted Ruto and other leaders' addresses as they toured Meru County, one of the strongholds of the ruling United Democratic Alliance.

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“Tabia kama hii mimi sitaki tena. Kwa mkutano wa rais mimi sitaki watu wa kupiga makelele. Nyinyi mnaskia? Hii ni kukosa heshima. Mimi nataka kila kiongozi apatiwe heshima," he said in Kiswahili, in an address at Kiutine.

This loosely translates to, "I do not want this kind of behaviour. I do not want noisemakers at a meeting of the President. Do you hear me? This is disrespectful. I want every leader to be respected."

The President noted that he visited the county to launch development projects.

“I don’t want this political noise. This is a very bad act. I want to create jobs for these youths. I don’t want this behaviour of making noise during political meetings. We have come here to plan development projects for the people of Meru - roads, farming, electricity, and education projects are all important," he said.

The President dragged the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), an opposition party led by Raila Odinga, into the matter, saying it is they who are accustomed to making noise during political meetings.

“This habit of making noise during political meetings is a habit of ODM. We don’t want this habit of ODM in UDA and Kenya Kwanza meetings. This [should be the last of this habit today]," he said. “We do not want this kind of nonsense. We want a united country. We are a people of plans, respect and work. We are not a people of noises and demonstrations."

Ruto and Raila often criticise each other in public with their supporters heckling leaders from opposing camps at various gatherings. These gatherings sometimes turn violent but both leaders have often urged peace and asked the youth not to listen to politicians who incite them to fight each other.

Ruto urged the public to await the elections for a chance to vote out underperforming leaders.

“If a person has done his work, you will allow him to continue. If they won’t have done their work, you will chase them away so they can go home,” he said.

Ruto, who is on a three-day development tour of Meru, is set to launch several development projects and hold meetings with the county's leaders. He will focus on Igembe North, South, and Central in the visit that will end on Saturday with visits to South Imenti, Central Imenti, and North Imenti.