Uhuru, Ruto allies spar on Facebook over Cord demos
Lieutenants of President Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto engaged in a rare banter on Facebook over Monday’s demonstrations by Cord to push for the removal of IEBC chiefs.
They exchanged posts on Facebook in which they differed on the appropriatness of recent barbs thrown at the Opposition.
Lawyer Donald Kipkorir, an ally of deputy President William Ruto, was displeased by social media attacks targeted at Cord leader Raila Odinga and his supporters by State House Director of Digital Communication Dennis Itumbi.
Mr Kipkorir said Mr Itumbi posts were “vilifying, denigrating and delegitimizing Cord and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.”
“Cord have a constitutional right to demonstrate, picket and present petitions every Monday, nay, even every day and night. It isn’t a privilege of any government. When people destroy property, arrest the individuals, but don’t try to demonize a whole people… Collective condemnation ended with Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin and Pol Pot.
“We must support our government to succeed, but treat all Kenyans with outmost respect. To use the name of the government to segregate part of the country through words that demean them isn’t higher calling,” Mr Kipkorir argued.
He tagged media commentator Ngunjiri Wambugu in the post.
Hours later, Mr Itumbi fired back by first enumerating the numerous times Mr Kipkorir had supported Mr Odinga over Mr Ruto ahead of the last elections, including his tweet of December 2012 that said “Kenya has no choice but elect Raila A Odinga. UhuRuto win will doom our country.”
He went to absolve himself from accusations of abusing the Opposition leader, saying that he only posts facts backed up by documents, links, audio or video.
“I love criticism Wakili, but let it be True and Sincere not a generalization. Claiming that I use demeaning WORDS on any leader is actually not true, I always refer to the Former PM as Honourable.
My criticism is based on things i can prove.
“Wakili I wish to let you know I appreciate your letter, I enjoyed reading it, but I reject the notion that speaking out Facts without opinion and tabling them is spreading hate or causing divisions between tribes.
