Deputy President William Ruto has cautioned politicians against involving themselves on matters pertaining to the country’s defence forces.
Mr Ruto particularly took issue with some leaders criticizing the recent move by President Uhuru Kenyatta to sanction the withdrawal of Kenya’s Defence Forces from a peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.
The withdrawal of KDF followed the dismissal of Kenyan Commander of peacekeeping force in Sudan Lieutenant General Johnson Kimani Ondieki by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon for allegedly failing to prevent civilian deaths.
Speaking during an interdenominational prayer service at the Bindura Africa Inland Church Kesses Constituency, Uasin Gishu County on Sunday, Mr Ruto told politicians to leave matters of the defence forces to the Commander in Chief.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta is the Commander in Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces and knows his role on matters of security. The President does not make decisions on the basis of political directions but on security analysis,” said Mr Ruto.
He said Kenya is a sovereign state where the President has a right to give direction on how security issues should be handled and does not rely on outsiders for advice on matters pertaining to security.
“Our security officers have put their lives at risk in the line of duty for the sake of the security and we should stop political insinuations on their work,” said Mr Ruto.
“Politicians should leave alone matters of security and concentrate on what they understand,” added the Deputy President.
Mr Ruto was accompanied by MPs Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Isaac Melly (Uasin-Gishu), James Bett (Kesses), William Kisang (Marakwet West), Kangogo Bowen (Marakwet East), Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga) and Governors Jackson Mandago (Uasin-Gishu) and Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet).
Mr Ruto, at the same time, said asked politicians to stop engaging in divisive politics and hate speech.
“Jubilee is against politics of incitement and hate speech. Violence is not a political tool to get anybody anywhere in this century," said Mr Ruto.
Mr Ruto said the Government has done a lot in making Kenya a united and peaceful country and wondered why the Opposition was reverting to old political tactics aimed at dividing Kenyans.
Mr Murkomen said they will not be stopped from participating in harambees to help churches.
“We will not be stopped from participating in church harambees. No one will separate us from the pulpit because it is the second home to some of us,” said Mr Murkomen.
He told CORD leader Raila Odinga to stop politicizing issues pertaining to defence forces.
Mr Mandago said Rift Valley was firmly behind the leadership of Jubilee dismissing those claiming that Opposition was gaining inroads in the area.
Governor Tolgos said the Government has facilitated smooth devolution to the counties, which has necessitated proper sharing of resources.
Mr Murkomen said legislators allied to Jubilee will strongly defend the Government against falsehoods by the Opposition saying they were hell bent in tarnishing its development record.
Mr Kisang said Jubilee Government has strong roots in the Rift valley due to the great development work.
Mr Kangogo said the security between the Pokot and Marakwet had been enhanced since the Deputy President visited last month.
By DPPS.