• Ngungyi's remarks came hours after Ruto reiterated that he will not allow impunity to reign supreme on his watch.
• The head of State warned that the government will not allow anyone to sabotage the economy by disrupting businesses.
Image: FILE
Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi has told President William Ruto that his hardliner stance against the Opposition amid planned weekly protests will end badly for the country.
He said his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta became aware of this and reached out to Raila Odinga for a truce and saved the country from economic ruin.
"Dear Ruto: The economy lost 1 billion shillings every hour during the "Teargas Mondays". This forced Uhuru to listen to Raila," Ngunyi said in a tweet on Wednesday.
"Your hardline position and "Kaka Sungura" wit cannot end well. Bishops will not tell you this," he added.
Ngungyi's remarks came hours after Ruto reiterated that he will not allow impunity to reign supreme on his watch.
The head of State warned that the government will not allow anyone to sabotage the economy by disrupting businesses.
"Such impunity must be dealt with firmly and full accountability enforced to vindicate Kenya’s commitments as a free market economy," Ruto said.
He spoke while presiding over Laptrust Imara I-reit listing on the Nairobi Securities Exchange at the Exchange Building, 55 Westlands Road, Nairobi.
The President was responding to a declaration by Azimio leader Raila Odinga who on Tuesday declared twin weekly mass protests on Mondays and Thursdays.
While making the announcement at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Nairobi, Raila said public demand necessitated the need to include Thursdays in their weekly processions.
"We reiterate to our supporters and all patriotic Kenyans that this struggle is just starting. We are not looking back and we will not be intimidated. No retreat, no surrender,” Raila said.
On Wednesday, the clergy appealed to Ruto to embrace dialogue with Raila for the sake of peace.
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) said while leaders in government should avoid chest-thumping, those in the Opposition should agree to talks.
"There cannot be a good reason to resort to the standoff and defiance of our leaders to the detriment of Kenyans," KCCB chairperson Martin Kivuva said at a press conference in Nairobi.
Uhuru on March 9, 2018, shocked the nation when he appeared on the steps of Harambee House and shook hands with Raila.
Uhuru's win in the 2017 polls was on September 1 that year nullified by the Supreme Court and a fresh poll was ordered within 60 days.
Raila, then in the defunct Nasa, boycotted the repeat election and demanded for electoral reforms through the streets.
He led protests every Monday at the IEBC headquarters at Anniversary Towers demanding that commissioners leave office.
After months of disruptions to business and livelihoods, Uhuru gave in to pressure and reached a truce with his long-time nemesis, effectively returning the country to normalcy.