The ODM leader Raila Odinga has called on Deputy President William Ruto to apologise to the Democratic Republic of Congo for saying the country does not even have. a single cow.
In a press statement on Wednesday, February 16, the ODM leader said such sentiment by DP Ruto if not checked might degenerate into a diplomatic dispute.
“As a person who has worked diligently alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta in deepening the ties that bind our two countries, I have been very disturbed and deeply disappointed by utterances of deputy president William Ruto that poured scorn in an otherwise friendly and enterprising nation that also holds Kenya in high esteem,” Raila said in the statement seen by Kivumbi.co.ke.
“Ruto’s attack on DRC is a manifestation of a reckless lack of vision and foresight; a pathetic failure to see where opportunities abound for Kenya, DRC produces,” he added.
DP Ruto on Monday, February 14, while explaining to traders and residents in Nyeri how his government will source for ready markets for their produce, he suggested that Congo is one of the ready markets of milk as it does not have cows.
“Tuko na Soko kuanzia hapa DRC, Hawa watu wako 90 million na hawana hata ng’ombe moja (We have a market here in DRC Congo. These people have a population of about 90 million but they don’t own even one cow),” DP Ruto said.
The remarks enraged a Senator from DRC, Francine Muyumba Nkanga who took to her Twitter handle to express her disappointment with DP Ruto’s remarks.
“(Deputy) President William Ruto, this is really unacceptable, with all due respect there is a need to withdraw this statement If DRC did not have a single cow how could Kenya sign economic deals with DRC, Equity Bank is currently making money in Congo, this is an insult,” Muyumba tweeted.
“Kenya needs the region& the region needs Kenya, together we are strong. KENYA as a country needs to stand against this statement officially in order to protect the friendship we enjoy between, our countries. As we wait for our Government to act we are ready to take parliamentary action,” Muyumba added.
