William Ruto’s allies furious at ban on importation of COVID-19 vaccine from Russia

Two of William Ruto’s staunchest defenders have come out guns blazing after the government banned private importation of Sputnik V vaccine from Russia.

Senators  Kpichumba Murkomen and Aaron Cheruiyot have claimed the ban was effected to punish Ruto who is among few public figures who have taken the vaccine.

On Friday, April 2, the health CS Mutahi Kagwe said only the government- procured Oxford- AstraZeneca vaccine is approved for use locally.

“The only agent for vaccination against COVID-19 shall remain the government of Kenya until furthure notice,” said Kagwe adding that the government needs to be sure there is transparency in importation of any other vaccine into the country by private sector players.

The move came following days of controversy over how the Russian vaccine had been approved for use in Kenya by private hospitals with a single jab of the same costing about KSh 11,000.

Lawyers Ahmednassir Abdullahi and Kipkorir Donald we among other known public figures who had taken the first shot of the now controversial Russian vaccine.

H.E UHURU is denying millions of Kenyans (including myself) the chance to get vaccinated and survive the scourge of the 3rd wave of the virus just because his DEPUTY William Ruto will get his second shot too…PETTINESS ON AN INDUSTRIAL SCALE! @StateHouseKenya

— Ahmednasir Abdullahi SC (@ahmednasirlaw) April 3, 2021

But Kericho senator Aaron cheruiyot believes it is the fact Ruto took a shot of the vaccine that the government opted to ban it.

“Your boss (President Uhuru Kenyatta) sets up vaccination (against COVID-19) for the cabinet and excludes you (William Ruto) from the invites. Like any other human being, you make your private arrangements to survive. He angrily bans that (Sputnik V) vaccine. Like you are just supposed to sit and die or what?” he posed through twitter.

Murkomen on the other hand said he believed the government banned the vaccine so Ruto cannot et the second jab.

So the government banned Sputnik V vaccine so that the Deputy President of the same government does not get the second shot? 🙆🏿🙆🏿 Meanwhile my friends @ahmednasirlaw @DonaldBKipkorir will suffer collateral damage.

— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) April 3, 2021

The government has however made it clear those who had already taken the first jab of the Russian vaccine shall get their second jab and as such will not be affected by the ban on importation.

President Uhuru recently took the first shot of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the company of First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and some cabinet secretaries with his erstwhile deputy conspicuously missing from the publicised event.