President William Ruto has taken a swipe at former Chief Justice David Maraga after he warned that the country is on the verge of being a failed state.
Speaking on Wednesday, July 23, at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), Ruto questioned why Maraga was interested in being the President of a ‘failed state’.
Though he did not mention Maraga by name, President Ruto's remarks appeared aimed at the former Chief Justice.
“I listened to one gentleman who retired the other day after working for 40, 50 years, and he wants to be President. I listen to him saying Kenya is a failed state.
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“I ask myself, so for 40 years you have been working in a failed state? You want to be president of a failed state? You want us to entrust you with the leadership of a country that you don’t believe in?” he posed.
The Head of State dismissed claims that Kenya is on the verge of being a failed state, pointing to ongoing investments as evidence of progress.
“For the record, companies like Linzi and an exchange like the Nairobi Stock Exchange, the best listed stock exchange last year in Africa they don’t exist in failed states,” Ruto added.
On Monday, July 21, Maraga said the country was on the verge of being a failed state due to worsening political and economic conditions.
“Look at what is happening in the country. We are getting into a failed state,” the former Chief Justice said.
“When you don’t have respect for human rights, how do you call a state like that? Those who oppose, you kidnap them, kill some of them, and maim others. That is not a democracy.”
Maraga also criticized the handling of recent anti-government protests, citing police brutality and suppression of constitutional rights as signs of worsening democratic decay.
“We have never heard in a democratic state where the right to picket, which is in the constitution, is clamped upon, and those who are picketing, instead of addressing their issues, you want to silence them,” Maraga added.
