It is well known that pretenders are worse than murderers but on slight twist what about those that are simultaneously act in pretence and murder? Where should such characters be classified and placed in our society? Many are skilled in this but one person stands out in Kenya by the fact that he is a leader and yet a Vice-president who managed to rise up to the helms of leadership through deception and wanton killings of innocent Kenyans who appeared as detractors along his path to wealth and power. This Bible carrying and verse-reciting man has learnt and perfected the art of deception with no inclination of fear or guilt in the actions he has committed as throughout his political career.
A lot has been reported about Deputy President William Ruto on his relentless theft of public resources, blackmail, manipulation and killings of individuals both those considered as his ‘close confidants’ and those who are more or less ‘insignificant to him but a threat to his greed for money and power. Yet a lot more is hidden about Ruto and ther is indeed more that meets the eye. From the recent revelation by the anti-secrecy organization WikiLeaks there is little to nothing to desire about Ruto especially for those who are his blind supporters.
The revelation indicates Ruto’s involvement and actions in the 2007- post poll chaos. Then he was a member of ODM’S apex team – The Pentagon alongside several other leaders with Former Premier Raila Odinga as their party leader. In the expose, Ruto was a key strategist being that he hailed from the Rift Valley and understood the situation on ground. Therefore, the enmity between the Kalenjin and the Kikuyus was a key strategy for him as it was a fertile ground for ethnic clashes that ensued after the 2007 General election.
With his links, Ruto managed to incite, recruit, train and instruct the youth to drive out communities that were considered ‘- mainly Kikuyus and Abaluhyas. For Ruto this was an opportunity for him to drive out unlawful occupants within the Rift Valley. He not only drove them out but also maimed and killed them. This is what mainly resulted to the numerous killings during the post-poll chaos back in 2002 that sparked more killings, loss and destruction of property as well as the displacement of thousands with many having to start their lives again.
Ruto had savoured at the opportunity under the premise of the Orange Democratic Party and had successfully managed to drive his agenda of division and chaos in order to steal, kill and destroy. A brief tour in parts of Rift Valley still bear the reflection of the post-poll chaos with Ruto managing to create a darkened memory of the region. Before the chaos, Ruto held several meetings and addressed public gatherings with those mentioned including a public address at Bisabol Shopping Centre in Turbo near Burnt forest which was a major hotspot and another being at a Seventh Day Adventist church where outside communities were referred to as ‘weeds’ that should be uprooted and burnt – ‘Sangari’ in Kalenjin.
His agenda was accomplished to the latter and since then Ruto has maimed and killed many who were witnesses and those he has viewed as detractors and impediments for his quest to gaining wealth and power.
