Mutua claps back after Ruto mocked him over firm handgrip claims

By Patrick Mutisya and Brian Okoth

Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua now says the DCI should summon Deputy President William Ruto to record a statement in regard to claims that he [Ruto] threatened the county chief with unspecified consequences.

Addressing journalists at his office in Machakos on Thursday, December 26, Mutua said Ruto “recently cracked jokes about the firm handshake he exchanged with me, yet he knows too well that he threatened to strike me hard”.

Mutua was responding to the DP, who, on Sunday, December 22, laughed off the Machakos governor’s allegations.

Speaking in Budalang’i, Busia County, during the Isambo Beach Carnival last Sunday, the DP suggested his grip and gaze at Mutua never communicated any threats, whatsoever.

“There are well-built men here who are heavy like trucks. Some, who took part in the boat race, are very strong. They have eaten enough ugali. They wouldn’t be able to row the boats if they are not well-fed. There is one of the competitors who shook my hands. His handgrip is akin to the one Mutua claimed I gave him at State House,” said Ruto.

“You heard him complaining that I firmly gripped his hands to suggest I was threatening him. Had he shaken hands with this man who rows a boat here, what would he say? I just shook his hands and gazed at him, and that was enough for him to run to the police station to report that I had threatened him. Had he greeted this man who rows a boat, he would have run to the ICC in The Hague to report him,” said the Deputy President.

And, now, a not-so-amused Mutua has clapped back, accusing the DP of being insincere with the statements that he is making publicly.

“DP Ruto knows too well that he threatened me. Kenya has a history of assassinations. You would hear somebody complain that he or she is receiving death threats, and the next minute, he or she is no more. People must be told who threatened me so that should anything happen to me, they would know who to confront,” said Mutua.

“Ruto is yet to deny that he threatened me. He is yet to deny that he vowed to strike me hard. Duale and Murkomen are also yet to deny that they threatened me. They are cracking jokes on matters of life and death, but are yet to deny that they threatened me. They are not denying because they know that what I said was the truth, and there are witnesses to corroborate my statements,” said Mutua, adding: “I am shocked that the DCI is yet to summon Ruto to record a statement in regard to the threats he directed at me.”

"The DP is accused of threatening to murder someone, which is a serious crime that can send someone to Kamiti [Maximum Prison] regardless who that person is. Everyone in this country, including Ruto, should respect the law."

Last week, the DCI said Mutua hadn't provided witnesses to confirm his claims against the DP, hence stalling the investigations.

The governor also denied claims that he was seeking publicity by “dragging the DP through the mud”.

“I am not engaging in political showbiz to boost my popularity. I am a well-known leader in Kenya. I have a party that I lead, and one that sponsored several MPs to the National Assembly. I am widely covered on radio stations and the newspapers. So, I have no reason to engage in political gimmicks,” he said.

On December 16, Mutua claimed that Ruto threatened him with unspecified consequences on November 25, 2019, when they were at State House to witness President Uhuru Kenyatta receiving the BBI report.

Mutua said the DP would, on December 11 at State House, again, shake hands with him, and told him: “You have been attacking me, and I have to crush you. I will teach you a lesson”.

He claimed Ruto added: “You wait, you will see” in the presence of the National Assembly Majority Leader, Aden Duale, who told him: “We warned you”.

Governor Mutua would later, on Monday December 16, file a report at the Kilimani Police Station over the alleged threats, saying he “did not want to take Ruto’s gaze, statement and handgrip lightly”. The county boss claimed that Ruto has powers to “make good on his threats”.