By Anderson Ojwang
Kenyans have in the last few days witnessed raw and unpalatable diatribe by leaders as the pressure of the 2027 presidential elections gains momentum.
It has been the lowest moment for the country as top leaders turned to body shaming, mudslinging, name-calling, raw insults and personal attacks that have baffled and embarrassed Kenyans and the world.
From issue- and ideology-based campaigns, the leaders have deteriorated to non-issues that have no direct impact on the country and the citizens and fail to address the high cost of living and emerging issues.
It can be said the exchanges have been one of the darkest days in the country’s political history ahead of the 2027 general elections and could be the tip of the iceberg of how the 2027 campaigns are likely to be.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua lit the flame at the weekend in Kiambu when he attacked President William Ruto, wondering why he had reduced in weight and body-shamed him over his ears.
“We will make sure, William Ruto, you are not going to sleep for the next 15 months. You will sleep when you finally reach Sugoi. We will expose you. You have seen how he has reduced in weight. It’s just the beginning,” he said.
President Ruto, on Tuesday while on a tour of Mt. Elgon, did not take it lying down and hit back, saying his attacker was driven by the demons of tribalism and hatred and cannot lead the country.
“Someone who has gone to the bedside of his sick and dying brother to manipulate the will. You cold-blooded thief, stealing from your own brother. Stealing from orphans, widows. You want to give us lectures.
Someone who impregnated a young girl and then later allegedly killed her. What will you tell us about deaths? You cold-blooded murderer. You want to mislead our nation. We will not allow you to mislead anyone in Kenya and you are not going to be anything in this nation. You belong to the rot in jail,” he said.
President Ruto did not stop at that but cast his net wider and body-shamed another opposition leader.
“You have eaten until your stomach is bulging. You have overeaten. I want to ask them to kindly have a look at themselves in a mirror.
Look at your shape in the mirror. Bulging stomach almost tearing the shirt. Go to the gym and exercise. Kindly reduce overeating so that you may stop sleeping at functions,” he said.
But Jubilee Deputy Party Leader and presidential aspirant Dr. Fred Matiang’i hit back at Ruto, wondering why he was concerned about his eating style.
“I do not understand why you are concerned about my eating style. Because I don’t eat your wife’s food. Have you seen me come to look for food from your wife?
I eat bananas from Kisii and food cooked by my wife. If my eating style is a problem to you, ask yourself why I have not come to ask you why you have grown thin?” he said.
President Ruto’s next target was a leader in Kitale whom he dismissed as a failure and incapable of leading.
“There is another one from Kitale; I do not know what to say about him.
He was left a wife by his brother, he was left acres of land by his brother. He was left children by his brother.
In that farm, he has not built a house; he hires a wife and rents a house. He has left his brother’s children to die from poverty.
He is now traversing the country in hope to lead the country. Who will you lead? Go build a house first at your home, look for a wife and buy diapers so that you can know the cost of living,” he said.
But DAP-K Leader Eugene Wamalwa said President Ruto has stooped low and that the insults against him were unnecessary.
“You have abused me. Today, I want to tell William Ruto that Michelle Obama once said when they go low, you go high, and that is why we go high.
Today, William Ruto, you have stooped to the lowest in your public life. What you said today, the insults against Eugene Wamalwa, were quite unpresidential. Very unpresidential and I want to request you. I have never insulted you.
You were mad and even wanted to slap me. It is the truth. It is not an insult; it is true you wanted to beat Matiang’i. It is the truth.
We have witnesses because it is about your character and what happened. Hunger management is an issue that you have.
If we say what you have done, Eugene Wamalwa is not insulting you. Why would you come home to insult me?”he said.
With the campaign gaining momentum, Kenyans are likely to be treated to raw insults.
