Deputy President William Ruto's scathing attack on Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga on Monday continues to elicit mixed reactions from leaders across the political divide.
Referring to him as the 'Lord of poverty, Ruto claimed Raila was opposed to development projects since his mission was to ensure Kenyans remain poor and thus continue supporting him.
“You’re opposed to any development in our nation because you believe this country should be poor so that people can continue to support you, and I am telling you we will work night and day to eliminate poverty in this nation so that your kingdom of poverty has no place in Kenya," he said.
The DP made the remarks while presiding over a women’s empowerment forum in Ekerenyo, Nyamira County.
According to Ainabkoi Member of Parliament William Chepkut, it was ironical for the DP to refer to the former Prime Minister as Lord of poverty, as he was part of Jubilee administration which he opined had impoverished millions of Kenyans.
"Ruto calling Raila Lord of poverty is a classic case of the pot calling kettle black. Jubilee has sunk the whole country into poverty," Chepkut, an Independent MP, tweeted on Tuesday.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, who accused the DP of stealing public resources, which results in making citizens poor.
"William Ruto is the real Lord of poverty. Theft of public resources denies honest ordinary Kenyans their right to wealth," said the ODM legislator.