Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has said opposition demos are not about the cost of living but rather they are about “some election results”. Speaking to DW TV in Germany, the Head of State dismissed opposition protests and insisted that he won the election squarely.
“Unfortunately, six months after the election, my competitors decided to pick up and challenge the election, not in a court of law, not in any known jurisdiction, but to challenge my election in the streets with demonstrations.
The President acknowledged that although there was a crisis of commodity high prices like fertiliser, fuel and grain, his government was making effort to deal with it by importing grain from across the world.
He said the government was investing in irrigation as a way of moving away from rain-fed agriculture. President Ruto also faulted the Western world for neglecting conflicts in Africa and called for the developed nations to stand in solidarity with the continent.
In an interview with DW on Tuesday, the President said Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo are currently experiencing conflicts, but Africa has been left “all alone”.
“Kenya for example, we have had to put our resources in deploying troops in DRC. We are currently hosting discussions to support peace process in Ethiopia,” Ruto said.
He said Kenya is also working on supporting Somalia with establishing a working administration including training of public officials, administrators and teachers using her resources. Ruto pointed out that the European Union has literally walked away from the Somalia issue.
“So when it is our issues, it is our issues, when it is other people’s issues it’s global issues,” he said.
Ruto further said the West, which contributes largely to climate change, has left Africa to bear the brunt through loss of biodiversity and unending droughts.
“Kenya is experiencing four years of severe drought. We have lost 2.5 million heads of livestock, we have lost livelihoods yet the conversation around climate change is still sterile,” he said.
Ruto said despite the glaring effects of climate change in Africa, the continent is still encountering difficulties in convincing the West to pay for the damage. While speaking on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ruto urged China, which has lately shown support for Russia, to do more towards de-escalating the war.
He said the Asian country, just like the rest of the world, does not stand to gain anything from the conflict. He said by virtue of China’s huge infrastructural investments globally, it should be at the forefront to end the war than fuel it.
“China is a bigger player in the economic space, so I believe even from a strategic point of view, China should be pushing for the end of this war because we have all come from the devastating effect of the Covid pandemic. I don’t think this war is helping them in anyway to recoup or recover from the investments.”
He said it’s saddening that with Russia’s threat to use nuclear weapons, the conflict appears to be escalating and looks like it’s not ending anytime soon.
Ruto was in Germany on a working tour at the invitation of President Steinmeier. He said they held talks on a number of issues, including climate change.
Ruto also met Kenyans living in Berlin, where he condemned the Azimio mass protests and maintained that impunity will not be part of the country’s political discourse. He reiterated that all Kenyans must submit to the rule of law.
“That is what makes us equal. Nobody should trample on the rights of others,” he said.
Ruto said he will ensure everyone’s life, property and business is protected through the provision of operational and financial support for police to do their work independently.
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