‘Insulting Kalonzo is disrespecting his people,’ Wavinya slams Ruto over ‘fools, brainless’ remarks

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has hit out at President William Ruto over a series of disparaging remarks targeting opposition leaders during his tour of the Ukambani region, saying the insults directed at Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka amount to an attack on the entire Kamba community.

Speaking on Friday during the traditional wedding ceremony of Pastor Ezekiel Odero and Pastor Sarah at Kikumini, Emali, Wavinya accused the President of showing open contempt for the region.

“Ruto ameonyesha Wakamba madharau sana. Anakuja hapa Ukambani kututukana sisi; ukitusi Kalonzo ni sisi umetusi. Ukiambia mtoto baba yako hana akili, inamaanisha wewe kama mtoto, mama yako na kila mtu katika ile familia hana akili,” she said.

“Arrogance is a terrible thing. I know Kalonzo cannot go to Sugoi to insult Ruto because he is a man of honour and fears God. But Ruto comes here to belittle him,” she added.

Wavinya also defended her decision to skip one of the President’s public events in the region on Friday when the latter was holding a rally in Machakos.

The Governor warned that any spite against Kalonzo would be taken as a spite against the entire community.

“If you disrespect my community, I am a daughter of this community and if you insult us, I am sorry but I have no business with you even if you are the president; respect my people and I will respect you," she stated.

Her remarks come amid growing backlash over President Ruto’s language during his four-day tour of Ukambani, where he repeatedly described his opponents as “fools” and “brainless,” despite his own public calls for an end to the politics of insults.

“Mtu ambaye mpango hana. Sera hana ajenda hana. Akili hana. Huyo ni mtu wa kuchagua?” the President told supporters during one of his stops, prompting criticism from local leaders and grassroots representatives.

In Kitui, he escalated the rhetoric further, saying: “Mpango hawana. Sera hawana. Hata akili… alaa kwani mnawajua? Salaale.”

The President also dismissed critics of his shareholding and governance policies as “wapumbavu” and “wajinga,” continuing a pattern that has characterised several of his recent public addresses.

Back in February, he referred to those questioning the livestock vaccination programme as “wajinga,” even as he has consistently urged the country to reject the politics of insults.