Editor's Review

"Mimi nimewaambia hawa wakora wote, matapeli na wezi kwamba mambo yao ni matatu; either wahame Kenya, waende jela ama waende mbinguni," Ruto said.

President William Ruto's remarks on fighting corrupt cartels have triggered a storm online with a section of leaders castigating him.

The President while on a tour of Western Kenya vowed to deal decisively with the corrupt saying he will not hesitate to deal with those who embezzle state funds.

"Mtu yeyote ambaye anapanga kuiba pesa ya Serikali, tafadhali tafuta nchi nyingine. Mimi nimewaambia hawa wakora wote, matapeli na wezi kwamba mambo yao ni matatu; either wahame Kenya, waende jela ama waende Mbinguni," Ruto said.


The remarks have seemingly been interpreted as a death threat to those involved in graft.

Read More

  1. Ruto PS Responds to Reports of Expected Strained Trade Talks With US After Trump Win
  2. Win for Ruto Gov't as Court Rules on Petition Challenging GMO Move
  3. President Ruto Mourns Pastor Who Left Him in Stitches with Vocabulary-Packed Prayer

Law Society of Kenya President Eric Theuri condemned the remarks saying it violates the basic tenets of the law that gives all the accused the right to be heard.

"This is a chilling statement that constitutes; a threat to the right to life, a threat to access to justice & right to seek judicial intervention and a threat to the independence of the judiciary. It explains the recent abductions and sends a strong signal of the return of extra-judicial interventions," Theuri said.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka also weighed into the matter saying the President must allow the due process of the law to follow its course for those involved in any crime.

"I would like to sincerely plead with our President, his actions and utterances mean something. When a President stands up and talks about an individual, that individual, whether he has broken the law or not, is put in a position where I see unfairness," he said in an interview with Citizen TV.

"We must protect due process very vigilantly. If someone has broken the law, let him go through the process. Let the President not be the person who makes announcements in public where he is accusing an individual because then he is trying this individual in advance."

Here are some of the reactions from Kenyans: