Nyanza MP asks Raila to tone down anti-Ruto rhetoric

Says the country continues to lose billions of shillings in revenue due to the protests

In Summary
  • His call for peace comes a week after three people were shot dead in Saba Saba demos in Kisii.

  • And during the Wednesday riots in Kisii, one protester suffered an arrow injury during the demos at Daraja Mbili market.

MP Japhet Nyakundi doing a jig with pupils at Sensi on Friday during a school bus donation exercise.
MP Japhet Nyakundi doing a jig with pupils at Sensi on Friday during a school bus donation exercise.
Image: MAGATI OBEBO

Kitutu Chache North MP Japhet Nyakundi wants Azimio leader Raila Odinga to tone down his anti-Ruto rhetoric.

While protests have their place in the constitution, Nyakundi observed, they often lead to loss of lives and property.

"We are not running away from the fact that the cost of living is high but violent demos on our streets cannot be the right answer to it," the MP told mourners at Nyakeyo area during the burial of a former medic on Friday.

The country, the MP noted, continues to lose billions of shillings in revenue due to the protests being staged across the country.

On Thursday, President William Ruto while in Mahimahiu accused retired President Uhuru Kenyatta of funding the mayhem in the country.

"I also unite with my boss to ask those funding this chaos to put the interests of their country first," the UDA party Treasurer said.

Nyakundi spoke during the donation of buses to Mesaria and Sensi Secondary schools in his constituency.

His call for peace comes a week after three people were shot dead in Saba Saba demos in Kisii.

And during the Wednesday riots in Kisii, one protester suffered an arrow injury during the demos at Daraja Mbili market.

Nyakundi said the squabbles in Kisii had already begun to derail development.

"If we continue with these skirmishes, those who suffer the most are our children, we must stop this madness," Nyakundi said.

Other leaders who condemned the Wednesday violence in Kisii and Nyamira are North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko, Kitutu Chache North politician Don Bosco and political activist Darious Mosoti.

Nyamoko who spoke to Star by phone said Gusii as a region stands to lose immensely in terms of economic investments if the pattern of political violence persists.

"I appeal to our students to resist any temptations to be dragged into the riots with cheap handouts," he said.

Gichana, on his part, said while protests are a democratic right, some people were misusing them to orchestrate violence and vandalism.

"It has taken years to build what we have and it can only take hours to destroy everything," he said.

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