Deputy President William Ruto on Monday failed to apologise for Meru Senator Mithika Linturi’s "madoadoa" utterances made during a UDA political rally in Eldoret on Saturday.

Speaking on the matter for the first time, two days after the controversial remarks, the DP referred to the utterances as "inappropriate language" but fell short of offering an apology. 

Ruto was speaking during a rally held at the Green Stadium in Bomet County on Monday after opting to remain mum on the matter during his coronation rally held in Eldoret.

He warned his allies against divisive talks that profile any individual, group or community.

“We do not subscribe to any divisive talk. We do not agree with any talk that profiles individuals or groups or communities because we are a national party that brings all the communities of Kenya together,” Ruto said.

Read More

  1. Kenya ranks among top African nations in millionaire population, report finds
  2. Ruto declares three days of mourning following death of CDF Francis Ogolla
  3. William Ruto announces bold initiatives to spur Kenya's creative economy

The DP added that the Meru Senator had already apologised to Kenyans for his remarks.

“Senator Linturi made a statement which he regrets. A statement that had inappropriate language and Senator Linturi has apologised. He has withdrawn the statement, and he has unconditionally apologised to the people of Kenya,” Ruto said.

He cautioned his party members to mind their language during their UDA public rallies.

"And we want to say, going forward, and I want to tell members of my team, the hustler nation that all of us must mind our language, all of us must be careful about what they say," he said.

Linturi had urged Uasin Gishu County residents to discard anyone opposing Ruto's presidential bid, referring to them as "madoadoa", a derogatory term linked to the 2007 post election violence.

The senator was arrested on Sunday and is expected to be charged over the remarks.

The DP was, however, silent on remarks by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot allegedly calling for deportation to Punjab in India of Kesses MP Swarup Mishra, for not helping the DP's bid.  

Similarly, UDA, in a statement released by Secretary General Veronica Maina, strongly defended the remarks made by the Senator on Saturday saying they were justified

: