Change of Tune As Orengo Defends Ruto's Campaign Slogan

Siaya senator James Orengo has defended the hustler narrative after a proposed law that seeks to incriminate those dividing Kenyans along with the 'hustler and dynasty’ narrative.

The National Cohesion and Integration has proposed five-year imprisonment or Sh5 million fine for anyone who brings up the ''hustler and dynasty'' split.

However, according to Orengo, criminalizing the hustler slogan is a threat to Kenya's democracy. He said that it was a form of free speech citing sedition laws used by past regimes to subjugate Kenyans into silence.

“To criminalise what somebody is saying is a great betrayal to the people of Kenya,” said the senator.

He also stated that those supporting the Bill acted to oppose Deputy President Wiliam Ruto's campaign slogan.

The Bill, crafted by Paul Koinange through the Parliament National Security Committee, states that "A person who has been dismissed or removed from office for a contravention of sections 62(1) and 62A(1) is disqualified from holding any other State or public office."

This comes as the hustler narrative continues to gain momentum as a key 2022 political campaign slogan crafted by Ruto'sRuto's camp.

Following the proposed Bill, several allies of Ruto have warned the NCIC against further casing divisions. Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua is on record warning the NCIC against presenting the Bill for debate.

"They want to misuse the law and silence us. We arrived at all as the constitution clearly provides situations whereby the DP can be impeached and not through the backdoor like using this Bill," Gachagua said.

In promoting the hustler narrative, Ruto has maintained that his policies would center on including the people in decision-making without including violence. He denied excluding those who are wealthy or who hail from privileged backgrounds.