President William Ruto has firmly rejected allegations from the United Opposition regarding supposed secret meetings with al Shabaab in Northeastern Kenya. He emphasized that his commitment to a development agenda remains steadfast, unaffected by divisive political narratives.
Ruto stated, “I am unsure what the United Opposition intends to achieve. When I arrived here, they claimed I was meeting with al Shabaab. I want to assure the people of Northern Kenya that we are united in our progress.”
To reinforce this message, Ruto announced that this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations will take place in Northeastern Kenya. He expressed that this decision reflects his administration’s dedication to inclusive national development, ensuring that no person or region is left behind.
“For the first time, we will bring the Madaraka Day festivities to Northern Kenya. In June of this year, we will celebrate our National Independence Day,” Ruto affirmed.
In August of the previous year, Deputy President Gachagua had alleged that Ruto engaged in undisclosed meetings with unidentified individuals, suggesting a connection to al Shabaab sympathizers and indicating that security vetting for residents in Northern Kenya had been lifted.
During his visit to the United States, Gachagua made these claims. In response, Mandera Senator Ali Roba, who accompanied Ruto throughout his visit to Mandera, asserted that all engagements were conducted transparently and included only officially recognized leaders and the public.
“As a leader who was with President William Ruto from his arrival in Mandera until his departure, I can confirm that the President’s meetings were open and fully within the public domain,” Roba stated. He clarified that the itinerary was shared in advance, with no private or unscheduled meetings taking place.
Roba further addressed the issue of security vetting, noting that the President has reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminating discriminatory practices that have historically impacted residents of border regions.
