Deputy President William Ruto yesterday dismissed journalist who had gone to cover his event, ordering them to be moved away.
In a video seen by Pulselive.co.ke, DP Ruto who was among the guests at the wedding of Human Rights Activist Amos Olempaka in Baringo county is seen dismissing journalists who had gone to cover the event before his security detail move in to effect the order and move the journalists away.
“Nyinyi tokeni hapa, tokeni. Msonge nyuma. Wafukuze kidogo wakae mbali. Kwani mnafikiri nilikuja kuongea na nyinyi ama nilikuja kuongea na wananchi. (Please leave, move behind. Push them slightly further. I came here to address the public, not you-journalist)” Ruto orderd.
Moments later, people believed to be his security detail are heard effecting the order amidst cheers from the public.
Below is the video of how things unfolded at the event.
DP Ruto’s relationship with the press has not been smooth. He has on numerous occasions faulted the press for what he terms “fake news”.
Most recently, he took issues with The Standard after the paper reported that President Uhuru Kenyatta has allegedly snubbed DP Ruto who had gone to receive him at JIA upon his return from Zambia.
In a recent interview with K24’s Anne Kiguta, the DP once more proclaimed that the Kenyan media thrives on fake news.
Asked on his relationship with President Uhuru Kenyatta and concerns that he has embarked on early campaigns against the directives of the President, Ruto took the opportunity to slam the press.
“These are tapes you have choreographed. That is what the media is all about…I know many media houses that cook stories and fake news” Ruto asserted.
On 27 June, journalists who had camped outside DP Ruto’s Karen residence in the hope that the DP will show up and speak on the assassination claims were treated to a rude shock after they were kicked out by security personnel.