By Hirum Muli and Joel Muinde,
Recently Deputy President (DP) William Ruto has found himself in an unenviable position having to defend his wheelbarrow, the symbol of a party linked to him and a tool he has been freely distributing to the youth in the name of economic empowerment.
Reasoning out loud while at a public function in Lunga Lunga Constituency on Thursday, February 4, DP Ruto wondered why his rivals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Gideon Moi have not been receiving such fierce criticism as he has for their party symbols, an orange, an umbrella and a cockerel.
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"Kama alama ya chama ni wheelbarrow na alama ya chama ingine ni mwavuli na hio ingine ni chungwa na ingine kuku, tofauti ya hizi alama ni kitu gani? Mbona watu wanasumbuka na wheelbarrow mbona wasiulize hii kuku ni ya nini? Mbona wasiulize hii chungwa ni ya faida gani? Mbona wasiulize hii mwavuli italiwa na nini? [Why are people so focused on the wheelbarrow and not Kanu's chicken or ODM's orange],” said DP William Ruto.
While the Orange Democratic Movement led by Raila, Wiper Democratic Movement led by Kalonzo and Kanu led by Gideo Moi have not been distributing oranges, umbrellas or chicken, Dr. Ruto lamented that they have not been severely criticised for their party symbols as he has.
Ruto, a holder of a Ph.D. in plant ecology from the University of Nairobi, has for the longest time been advocating for young people [hustlers] to pursue STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) courses.
Political commentators have been struck by the irony of a STEM champion who is now seeking to empower young people with technology invented before 118 AD yet they live in a country looking to not only be a manufacturing behemoth but also a post-industrial economic power.
This is not the first time Ruto has been forced to defend his wheelbarrow movement, a tool he insists puts food on the table for thousands of 'hustlers' across the country.
"Countrymen, finally the wheelbarrow/mkokoteni/boda boda moment is here. The discourse is about; hustlers not tribes; wananchi not leaders; empowerment of ordinary hustles not power for the few; ordinary hustler jobs not positions for the mighty; from bottom, not top down. Jipange," Dr Ruto, tweeted on October 4, 2020.
To be fair to the DP, he has hosted delegations after delegations at his official Karen residence in Nairobi County and his Sugoi home in Uasin Gishu County where he has handed out various items to youth and women groups, including hand carts, washing machines, water tanks and Suzuki Altos.
Among those who have taken a jab at the Deputy President over his wheelbarrow movement include President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila.
President Kenyatta said that the wheelbarrow narrative is misleading and offers false hope to the Kenyan youth.
Raila, on the other hand, said that the country needs to think big -- bigger than the wheelbarrow if Kenyan youth are to compete with the Chinese who incidentally may have invented the tool yet they are now in a post-industrial phase of development and competing with the US in terms of economic muscle power.
