Shameful! Wiper hits back at Cheruiyot over attack on Kalonzo

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka

The Wiper party has called out Senate Majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot over his verbal attack on their leader Kalonzo Musyoka and DAP-K’s Eugene Wamalwa.

In a statement on Saturday, the party through Secretary General Shakila Abdalla said it was shameful for Cheruiyot to attack Kalonzo for defending the rights of children.

The party described Cheruiyot's remarks as cowardly.

“The petty and degrading attacks on H.E Dr Kalonzo Musyoka, who condemned the mistreatment of Butere Girls, are a testament to the growing intolerance within the government. Senator Aaron Cheruiyot's vile remarks calling our party leader "stupid" for defending the rights of students are utterly shameful and expose the level of discourse in the corridors of power," Wiper said.

“His attacks on Kalonzo Musyoka are cowardly,” Shakila said.

The party said it is evident that the Senate Majority leader does not understand the rights of all Kenyans to peacefully challenge authority.

The party said his actions imply that he supports violation of people's rights. 

“Cheruiyot has failed to grasp the fundamental right of every Kenyan, especially the youth, to challenge authority through peaceful means, including theatre and art.

“His attack on our party leader implies that he defends the oppressive actions meted out against the students and exposes his disdain for free expression, regardless of the harm it causes to the fabric of our society."

The party insisted that Kenyans, especially youths, deserve to have their voices heard.

Cheruiyot, in a video seen by the Star, said that it was bad for opposition leaders to blame President William Ruto for the bad things that are happening in the country

He said that the President is always busy and there are people who oversee the day-to-day operations of other things.

It followed the altercation in Nakuru during the National drama festival where Butere Girls boycotted a performance of their hyped 'Echoes of War' play on Thursday.

The students refused to stage the Gen Z-themed play and demanded that the playwrite, former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, be realesed and witness the play.

The ensuing melee saw police use teargas to disperse the agitated students, leading to condemnation and public outrage.

Leaders and rights groups termed the police action as repugnant and one aimed at suppressing freedom of expression, a fundamental right in a democratic society.