President William Ruto shakes hands with Likoni MP Mishi Mboko in Mombasa on May 21 /PCS
President William Ruto has reiterated his condemnation of tribal politics and hate-driven profiling following the death of gospel artist Rachel Wandeto, warning that those fuelling division in the country will be held accountable.
Ruto linked Wandeto’s killing to growing intolerance and ethnic hostility in the country, saying leaders promoting divisive politics are endangering national unity.
“The life of Rachel Wandeto will not go unanswered. You who call others traitors, mnaita wengine wasaliti mpaka mama Rachel Wandeto ameuawa kwa sababu ya chuki yenu,” the President said.
Ruto claimed unnamed political leaders are profiling Kenyans and branding those with differing political views as traitors, warning that the country would not allow a return to ethnic divisions and blackmail.
“We will not allow anybody to divide our nation using ethnicity and hate. One day you will answer for the tribalism and hate you are spreading in Kenya,” he said.
He was speaking Thursday at Mama Ngina drive in Mombasa at the start of his development tour of the coastal region.
Wandeto, a gospel musician from Mwiki in Kasarani, gained national attention earlier this year after tattooing Ruto’s face and political slogans on her body in support of the President.
Reports later emerged that she had been evicted by relatives over political disagreements before her death.
Wandeto, a gospel musician from the Mwiki in Kasarani, had gone viral after tattooing Ruto’s face on her chest together with the phrase “Two Terms” and the President’s name on parts of her body in a dramatic display of political support.
The move reportedly caused tension within her family, with reports indicating she was later evicted from home due to political disagreements.
Her gruesome death has sparked widespread outrage online and renewed debate over intolerance and political hostility in the country.
In an indirect attack at his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, Ruto accused him of weaponising ethnicity and fear to intimidate Kenyans who hold different political views.
I want to say, without fear of any contradiction, while I am here at the Coast, for those of you who are visionless, the people who have no vision for our nation, the people who have no plan for our nation, you will not divide our nation using ethnicity and hate. Kenya hii hatuwezi kubali, hatutaruhusu mtuuzie ukabila, uoga na blackmail,” the President said.
“We will not allow anybody to blackmail our nation using ethnicity. You will not profile citizens as traitors because they do not believe in your tribal bigotry.”
Ruto maintained that Kenya’s future depended on unity and coexistence, saying the country could not afford to slide backwards into divisive politics.
“We are going to stand together as a nation. Our nation will not go backward. Our nation will move forward with unity and a common destiny,” he said.
