Matiang’i Faults Ruto For Making ‘Shameless’ Remarks On Kerio Valley Security Operation

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul, 27 – Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has called out Deputy President William Ruto for making what he termed as ‘very shameful’ remarks on the security situation in the Kerio Valley.

Matiang’i dismissed claims that the government had withdrawn police reservists from the area terming the claim as false.

“As we speak right now, we have national police reservist are in some parts of North Rift, there has never been a time we have withdrawn national police reservists from North Rift or any part of the country. What happened is, reviews are done from time to time depending on the needs, what is needed in a particular area,” he said.

He further said that before any decisions remade area residents, civic leaders, and political leaders are always consulted on the best way forward to address any insect concerns.

“I have been in meetings with civic leaders and wananchi who tell you reduce the number of guns in the hands of civilians, let us have police officers do this work, ”

“We have national reservists in some parts of North Rift, there has never been a time we have withdrawn police officers from a particular part of the country. We do not provide security because of an individual, we have a constitutional responsibility,” said Matiang’i.

The Presidential Debate 2022 saw Deputy President and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate William Ruto take a swipe at his boss President Uhuru Kenyatta and Azimio La Umoja Presidential candidate Raila Odinga over the inadequacies saying that he was the best bet for Kenya ahed of the August, 9 polls.

Ruto while addressing the security challenges in the North Rift region made shocking statements that the insecurity in the area deteriorated after the handshake and that the withdrawal of police reservists was to blame.

“The situation was under control, but when we came into the handshake arrangement a false narrative, the very unfortunate false narrative was rolled out that all these police reservists in the counties of Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, and West Pokot were actually a militia that William Ruto would use at some point and they were all withdrawn,” he said.

He said that there was relative peace in the counties of Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Pokot, and Samburu during the first term of the Jubilee government when he was still in good graces with President Kenyatta.

He tried the withdrawal of police reservists as reckless and one that resulted in the death of scores of innocent Kenyans.

“The withdrawal of the national police reserve was really an unfortunate act, but because it was intended to punish William Ruto never mind that many people lost their lives, is a real tragedy but that is the nature of our politics in Kenya,” he added.

Matiang’i also accused Ruto of ‘absconding’ his duties and that he failed to understand some of the decisions made by the government.

“I don’t like spending time commenting on some of this flippant and political thing because some people lie like a career like they went to school to be trained. You saw those lies yesterday, they lie about anything, they can’t tell you anything, probably the only truth about theM is their name. They lie all the time saying things that do not exist,”

“People would do better if they did their job because if they attended the meetings they are supposed to attend, sort briefs from the people they are supposed to be briefed from instead of embarrassing themselves in such a manner saying things that do not exist,” said Matiang’i.

“How do police officers, senior police officers managing the security sector feel when they see their leaders lying about them?” Posed the CS.

The government launched an oration in Elegy Marakawet last month instituting a curfew while also conducting an exercise to seize liege gas from residents.