No holds barred: Furious DP Ruto says ‘enough is enough!’

The statement below was posted by Deputy President William Ruto on his official Facebook page at 6:40pm on Saturday, September 26, 2020:

“The lords of tribalism and poverty who are masters/beneficiaries of political violence are very mad at the unbowed Hustler movement. Why?

“The Hustlers have refused the tribe configuration and instead they want a conversation on their individual hustles which are tribeless.

“Tribe has been hijacked by tribal lords/chiefs to benefit themselves and their families to the detriment of Hustlers and their children. And enough is enough.

“The hustlers, as a minimum, want a new conversation. Not about anyone’s tribe but about the hustles of each one of us. Not about power but about empowerment. Not about positions for the mighty but about jobs for the ordinary.

“Surely, that is not too much to ask! Is it? But instead known ethnic chieftains, with no respect for rule of law or democratic election outcomes, complete with track records of chaos and anarchy, are at it again. This time with the BBI.

“Threatening confrontation with anyone with an alternative/contrary opinion. For good record threats, blackmail, intimidation and insults, which we have been treated to for the last two years is the language of tyrants, despots and dictatorships. Sorry but we are a democracy.

“Freedom of thought, association, choice will be our minimum for any public policy engagement including the BBI. To give you a heads up we want an engagement on

“(1) Empowerment of the millions of Hustlers not just power for the few. Power is about you the lords, some leaders and the few. Empowerment is about the people, the hustlers. Before we discuss about power and the sharing amongst you few let us agree on empowerment of mama mboga, kinyozi guys, bodaboda, bebabeba, jamaa wa kiosk, mkokoteni fellows, the micro-small-medium entrepreneurs and business people so as to pull real people out of poverty. Wacheni madharau and insults.

“These hustlers are not thieves, they are not stupid, they are not lazy. They deserve opportunity, support, encouragement and inspiration which they lack. This is a priority. Forget the deceptive ‘socio-economic blah!blah’ phrases that are amorphous, intangible and tired.

“(2) We want a discourse on real jobs for millions of Kenyans not four or five positions for tribal chiefs. Jobs for ordinary citizens. How many jobs? In which sectors? And when? Is very urgent. Positions can wait. For your information 16 million Kenyans, majority of them below 35years are Jobless hustlers. The Jubilee housing programme can create 2.5 million jobs. Now. 

“Forget the sterile ’employment-creation blah!blah!blah!’ rhetoric that has been sang since independence. Are you telling us the creation of five lofty positions for the mighty by BBI is more urgent than the implementation of the housing programme that would create 2.5 million jobs for ordinary Kenyans! Really?? Ata kama ni madharau jameni! Tho!

“Let us start here mengine tutaongezea.

“Meanwhile, we are acutely aware that you are powerful, you have told us you have the system, as well as the deep state. You also pride in godfathers. But we are the people, the hustler nation, and we have God the Father.

“Please, let us have a decent conversation. That’s all we are asking. Madharau, matusi, vitisho, blackmail hapana.”