Wainaina denies threatening Rift Valley Kikuyus over Ruto vote

By Newsflash Reporter

Nominated United Democratic Alliance (UDA) MP Joseph Wainaina has denied warning members of the Kikuyu community living in the Rift Valley of dire consequences if they fail to vote for President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.

Wainaina, whose remarks sparked countrywide uproar and condemnation, said he had been misquoted, blaming his competitors for using the internet for distorting his statements.

“The internet is being used to alter what one had said,” Wainaina said while seeking to clarify his position.

The MP said his remarks were made against the backdrop of growing political tensions between supporters of UDA and the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), which is associated with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

“There is a lot of friction because of the politics emerging between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) factions. You know that there are young men who are looking for positions who cause conflict between individuals so that they can be seen as defending the Kikuyus,” he said.

Wainaina cites past election violence

Wainaina, who is from Eldoret, said he was particularly concerned about political rhetoric that could revive ethnic tensions and violence witnessed during previous election cycles.

“I feel sorry because, as a native of here [Eldoret], I was born here, my children live here and all my assets are here,” he said.

The nominated MP recalled the violence that rocked Uasin Gishu and other parts of the Rift Valley following the 1992, 1997 and 2007 elections, saying he had personally suffered losses.

“My father’s property [and him] was burnt in 1992, 1997 and 2007. I was even unable to bury him here because of the war that was there,” Wainaina said.

He maintained that he could not deliberately make statements that would expose members of his community to danger, insisting that he had himself been a victim of ethnic conflict.

“Therefore, I am telling my people that I cannot be on the frontline to betray our community or wish the community to encounter a misfortune,” he said.

Wainaina further sought to distance himself from the remarks attributed to him, saying his age and experience should demonstrate that he would not advocate for the displacement of any community.

“I wish to distance myself with those issues. I am old enough. I am even a grandfather,” he said.

“How can I say that Kikuyus should leave? If so, I should be the first one to leave. I have been a victim of ethnic war for so long.”

Condemnation

His clarification comes after a video clip in which he appeared to warn Kikuyus living in the Rift Valley of dire consequences if they did not support Ruto in the 2027 polls went viral on social media.

The remarks triggered condemnation from several political leaders, particularly in the Mt Kenya region.

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba was among leaders who threatened to leave UDA if action was not taken against Wainaina over the remarks.

The Jubilee Party also condemned the nominated MP, adding to calls for political leaders to avoid statements that could inflame ethnic tensions ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Wainaina, however, urged his political competitors to keep politics separate from the safety and lives of ordinary citizens.

“To my competitors: don’t play your politics with the lives of people. You have every right to vote the way you want,” he said.