– Deputy President William Ruto has apparently said that Baringo Senator Gideon Moi is uncircumcised hence should not be listened to in the Rift Valley politics
– Circumcision in an important rite of passage among the Kalenjin community as it after the exercise that a male is seen as a real man who is able to lead
– Political wrangles between the DP and the Kanu chairman have been heightened by the March 7, senatorial by-election in Kericho where Jubilee and Kanu candidates are the front runners
Deputy President William Ruto is seemingly sparing nothing in his quest to keep the Rift Valley under his control.
Just days after begging for forgiveness from elders in Kericho county for failures of the Jubilee administration, the DP has gone bare knuckle on leaders opposing him.
William Ruto, during a campaign rally in Belgut constituency, got personal with the former president Daniel Moi’s family saying that Kalenjins supported him and it was not right for Moi’s son to oppose Jubilee ambitions.
“Kalenjins stood by him (Daniel Moi) shoulder-to-shoulder, until he became president, so this uncircumcised son of arap Moi should not bring us his stupidity by telling us that we cannot support other Kalenjin leaders from other families… tell them to leave us, to stop playing with us,” said William Ruto as quoted by The Star on Monday, February 22.
Ruto spoke in vernacular but according to the translation, he technically meant that Baringo Senator Gideo Moi should not be listened to as he was not a real man. The paper’s translation has however been disputed with some people saying the words were taken out of context.
“The word ‘ng’etet’ means a young boy or uncircumcised boy or ‘son of’ depending on the words one uses after. Ruto said ‘ng’etet ab arap Moi’ meaning the son of arap Moi,” said one member of the community.William Ruto’s political wrangles with Baringo Senator Gideon Moi have heightened due to the March 7, senatorial by-election in Kericho county.
Jubilee is under pressure to retain the seat that fell vacant following President Uhuru Kenyatta’s appointment of Charles Keter as cabinet secretary for energy.
The ruling coalition’s candidate Aaron Cheruiyot is facing stiff competition from Kanu’s Paul Sang who is
Sang, a former minister, is also seen as a more seasoned politician as came second in the 2013 senatorial race while Cheruiyot is making his debut in the county politics.
This is not the first time that circumcision has been used to cast doubt on one’s leadership abilities.
In October 2015, Kiambu Governor William Kabogo came under fierce criticism for apparently saying CORD leader Raila Odinga lacked wisdom because he was uncircumcised.
“I keep telling you that the foreskin is not good because it makes the brain not to think,” Kabogo said.
The governor later claimed that he was only advising Kenyans to be keen on their personal hygiene and consider the health benefits of circumcision.
Politicians from both Jubilee and Cord have been accused of hate speech with Chief Justice Willy Mutunga giving a warning that politicians may lead Kenyans another election violence in 2017.
The drums of possible violence are being beaten and only a strong social movement will save the country from the precipice, he said.
Other notable individuals who have been on the spot for hate speech are Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, former Nairobi mayor George Aladwa and political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi.
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