Onyonka declines Ruto’s New Year Eve dinner invite
Kisii County Senator Richard Onyonka has rejected President William Ruto’s invitation to partake at a New Year’s Eve dinner organised by State House.
In a Press release, Mr Onyonka on Tuesday said his decision was informed by Dr Ruto’s failure to address corruption, abductions, enforced disappearances, killings, torture, and other human rights abuses.
“… because of my deeply held views on these issues, I will not be attending the State New Year – Eve Dinner at the Kisii State Lodge on the evening of Tuesday, 31st December 2024, in my capacity as the Senator of Kisii County. I therefore decline the invitation,” said Mr Onyonka.
He said it would be obscene for him to dine and wine at the State lodge when families with missing members are in pain.
“I’m uncomfortable with the idea that some of us will be normal, happy and excited with colour and pomp when other Kenyan families are agonising in pain looking for their loved ones to share during this season, but in vain.”
The opposition politician has been outspoken on corruption in government, and was among legislators who stood against President Ruto plan to lease the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to India-based firm Adani.
Weighed down by court cases, Dr Ruto on November 21 succumbed to public pressure and cancelled the deal after the US indicted Adani bosses of corruption in their home country.
Mr Onyonka said the year 2024 was ending at “a very low” end due to the ongoing abduction of young Kenyans critical of President Ruto and his administration.
“The ongoing abductions, corruption and violation of the people’s rights, especially to young Kenyans is sad and painful to many. It’s sad to remember our past. It means Kenya is going back to factory settings; indeed, history repeats itself,” the press statement reads in part.
He explained that President Ruto ought to have released the abductees as “his new year clarion call of unity of purpose, magnanimity and brotherliness to all Kenyans”.
“Kenyans have asked, begged, and pleaded with President Ruto to which he has given a deaf ear!”
His statement came a day after scores of Kenyans on Monday took to the streets and online platforms to express their displeasure with the recent wave of abductions and enforced disappearances.
Street protests rocked parts of the capital Nairobi, Embu town, Karatina town and Mombasa City, with police, who are suspected to be behind the abductions, responding with brute force— tear gas and arrests— leaving some protesters injured.
The protesters wielded placards of some of the latest victims of alleged police abductions and enforced disappearances, including Gideon Kibet, Ronny Kiplagat, Steve Kavingo Mbisi, Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli and Kelvin Muthoni.
According to the Kisii senator, the Head of State has failed to uphold the rule of law against his oath of office, said the legislator.
“I have a strong conviction that the president has fallen short of his Oath of Office where he should obey, preserve, protect, and uphold the sovereignty, integrity and dignity of the people of Kenya,” the statement reads.
In the statement, Mr Onyonka observes that 2024 has been a sad, tumultuous and painful year for Kenyans as the presidency clawed back on democratic gains.
As such, he wishes that the president would have ushered in the new year on a clean slate.
Mr Onyonka’s condemnation of the state adds to that of the Chief Justice Emeritus David Maraga who released a statement Monday.
Mr Maraga termed Mr Ruto’s administration as “uncaring”, thus detrimental to the constitutional gains that the country has made over the years.
In a terse statement, Mr Maraga said that 2025 will be the year when oppressors will face justice.
rmbula@ke.nationmedia.com
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