A comment by deputy president William Ruto during a political rally has sparked online anger in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
On Monday, William Ruto told residents of Nyeri, in central Kenya, that there was a big market for their dairy produce in DR Congo - and appeared to suggest that there were no cattle in that country.
“We have a market in DR Congo…these people who are singers… These people have a population of about 90 million but they don’t own any cow," he said in Swahili - a clip of which has been widely shared.
The remarks have not gone down well in DR Congo, with even some politicians and journalists describing them as disrespectful as he also appears to be disparaging the Congolese as lazy people who only know how to sing.
Senator Francine Muyumba took to Twitter and termed the remarks an “insult” and “unacceptable” and asked Mr Ruto to withdraw the statement.
En ce moment même, dans certains villages où on comprend le Swahili, les gens veulent qu'on photographie leurs vaches. Il y en a plein au Congo, Mr @WilliamsRuto. Laplupart achète ces histoires du #Kenya par sympathie, pour essayer quelque chose d'ailleurs. pic.twitter.com/x2DVLtyxXs
— Jacques Sebisaho MD MPA (@JSebisaho) February 16, 2022
“Kenya as a country needs to stand against this statement officially in order to protect the friendship we enjoy between our countries. As we wait for our government to act, we are ready to take parliamentary actions,” she said.
The issue has been trending on Twitter in DR Congo for the last two days, with some sharing images of cattle farms in the country:
Some Kenyans have defended Ruto, saying he was merely urging dairy farmers to look for opportunities across the region.
Mr. Vice Preisident @WilliamsRuto, this is really unacceptable, with all due respect there is a need to withdraw this statement. If #DRC did not have a single cow how could #KENYA signe economic deals with #DRC, @EquityBCDC is currently making money in Congo, this an insult. pic.twitter.com/7qGCN5NdEf
— Amb.Francine MUYUMBA NKANGA 🇨🇩 (@Muyumba) February 15, 2022
Allez-y dire à @Williamruto_phd & sa #Kenya de n'est plus faire la confusion, #RDC 🇨🇩 Eloko ya makasi.
— Katumbiste Non Silencieux (@Katumbiste_) February 16, 2022
Grâce à @moise_katumbi un digne fils du pays, non comment, au #Congo nous avons les vaches laitières, beaucoup même @OlivierKamitatu @SalomonKalonda @abelamundala @Ensemble_MK pic.twitter.com/fYeqf9poG3