‘We don’t have a spare country but this’ – Ruto urges youths to halt demos

By Moses Muli

Published: July 25,2024 02:56 PM

President William Ruto has appealed to the protesters to back down, stating that there is a need to protect the country and businesses.

In a statement during his tour of Tharaka-Nithi County, Ruto noted that Kenyans had no other country should they destroy Kenya.

“Hakuna haja ya kuharibu nchi yetu, hakuna haja ya fujo, hakuna haja ya vita, kuharibu mali ya wananchi, kuiba mali ya wengine, kuleta maafa,” Ruto said. (There is no need to destroy our country by destroying property, creating chaos and war which bring about the loss of lives).

He added: “Mimi nauliza wakenya tuungane, hatuna nchi ingine  nchi yetu ni moja. Tukiharibu hii hakuna mahali pengine pa kuenda. Ama kuna mtu ako na spare nchi ambaye tunaezahamia. Tuungane tuichunge tuilinde tuwe watu wa kujenga mali.” (I am appealing to Kenyans to unite because we do not have another country; our country is but one. If we destroy this one, we do not have an alternative place to go to. Is there anyone with a spare country where we can relocate to? Let’s unite and protect our country and become productive people).

Ruto vows to protect

Ruto’s remarks come just days after he vowed to protect the country from the chaos, he said was occasioned by protesters who according to him were bankrolled by some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

“We will protect life, we will protect property, we will stop the looters, we will stop the killers, we will stop the mayhem, we will stop anarchy because Kenya is a democracy, and we want a peaceful, stable nation. Our issues are resolved using democratic means,” Ruto said at a roadside rally in Bomet county on July 20, 2024.

During the roadside address, Ruto vowed to protect the nation, adding that he would not give in to further demands by the protesting youth.

“They said we should not pass the Finance Bill, and I dropped it. Then I called them, and they said they didn’t want to come for talks with me. They told me to go to X [spaces], and I went there, but they ran away,” the Head of State said.

He added: “Then they told me to call for a national dialogue, I have called for dialogue, and now they have refused. They are still saying they are faceless, formless. I have given everyone a chance to say whatever they want. I cannot continue like this. The country is much more important than any group of people. We must come together as a nation, protect our nation, and ensure that Kenya is a democracy. Anyone who has issues should use the front door and tell Kenyans what they want.”

For six weeks the country has been engulfed in weekly protests that have led to the loss of more than 50 lives according to human rights groups.