Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has condemned the recent spate of violence that left many business owners from the Mount Kenya region reeling from massive losses caused by break-ins and theft during protests.
DP Kindiki has linked the violence to opponents in the vote-rich region and warn against the new direction which he termed as alien and dangerous.
He was speaking in Maragua area of Murang’a County where he led a women empowerment campaign on Friday.
“Even though we support different political formations, I plead that we differ respectfully. Let the competition be based on agendas that aim to uplift Kenyans. Let’s fight to have a better development agenda but not merely to cause mayhem and destruction of property,” Kindiki remarked.
Further, he wondered why the region was experiencing confrontational rhetoric which occasionally degenerated to physical exchanges despite holding together in the past even with internal competition.
“I’ve followed politics since Moi’s era. In 1992, Kenneth Matiba and Mwai Kibaki vied for presidency, both from this region. They competed on policies, there was no violence. No supermarkets were burnt down,” he said, adding, “This violence has never been seen.”
“In 2002, we had Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta seeking the presidency. Did we have violence in Central? Both ended up as presidents,” he stated.
At the same time, the Deputy President has lashed out at online critics opposed to his numerous economic empowerment programmes saying that the meetings will continue.
“Those who don’t want these empowerment programmes should say so in public, not online. For the time being we will carry on,” said a defiant Kindiki.
Kindiki’s entourage later landed in Muhoroni, Kisumu County for a similar engagement.
Meanwhile, another team led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula and Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi graced another women empowerment forum at Nyamache Grounds in Bobasi Constituency.
During the forum, the Speaker emphasized the government’s strong commitment to uplifting women and youth through the support of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
