NAIROBI, Kenya
Kenya’s Deputy President, William Ruto, has finally broken his silence on the ongoing controversy with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over his recent remarks.
Ruto, in a statement released on Wednesday
evening, retracted his controversial Monday sentiments that the DRC has no
cows, which have since brought him under fire.
The DP has elucidated that his speech may have been
taken out of context since his intentions were purely to reach out to the local
residents.
“My speech was informal, and my use of certain
effects was purely to underscore the magnitude of the opportunity and the
urgency of the moment to a local audience. It was not intended to be
disrespectful in any way,” said the DP in a statement by his presidential
campaign Communications Director Hussein Mohammed.
He similarly noted that his assertions were not
meant to cause strife with the Central African nation as he himself holds a
high opinion of the country.
“I regret any misunderstanding that may have arisen
on account of my speech, and take this opportunity to assure the government and
people of the DRC of my profound admiration and high regard,” stated the
DP.
Ruto made the now infamous remarks while speaking
to micro, small and medium enterprise owners in Nyeri County on ways to augment
the country’s agricultural sector.
A video clip that was widely shared shows the
Deputy President at a campaign rally in Nyeri, central Kenya, on Monday, saying
that the Congolese were mostly musicians who do not own cows.
He said: "...Na tuko na soko kuanzia hapa DRC
hao wako na 90 milion people na hawana hata ngombe moja." (“We have a
market in DR Congo… these people who are (just) singers… There’s a population
of about 90 million, but they don’t own a single cow,” he said.)
Meanwhile, Kenya’s ambassador to the Democratic
Republic of Congo, Dr George Masafu, on Wednesday, said there is no broken
“respect” between the two countries in the wake of comments by Deputy President
William Ruto, which were seen in Kinshasa as disparaging.
The envoy said there have been “negative reactions”
to remarks by DP Ruto about his host country’s lack of cows.
Dr Masafu said in a statement that the Embassy had
updated Nairobi on the reactions from the business community in Kinshasa, who
demanded assurance of mutual respect.
“The Kenyan Embassy wishes to reiterate that the
government and the people share a deep and respectful; historical relationship
with the government and the people of DRC. This relationship stretches back to
the independence of our respective countries,” the statement said.
His description of Congolese as high-waist trouser
wearers and musicians did not go down well with both Congolese and some Kenyans.
On Tuesday, when the clip was shared, journalists,
rights activists, politicians and ordinary Congolese noted the “unacceptable
lack of respect” for DRC on the part of Ruto.
Ms Francine Muyumba, a senator and former president
of the Pan African Youth Union said: “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? EquityBCDC is
currently making money in Congo; this is an insult. We are friends to Kenya. A
candidate running for the highest office of the Country needs to be
diplomatically conscience (sic) as Kenya need(s) to strengthen economic ties in
the region for Kenya’s internal economic growth. Kenya Airways is now flying in
some of our big cities. This is a provocation or just an insult to my people.
Sad for Africa.”
Dr Masafu sought to reassure the DRC that Kenya
would continue encouraging the citizens of both countries to keep engaging and
“building strong partnerships, especially at this historic moment when the DRC
prepares to join the East African Community.”
Dr Masafu says he met with the Secretary-General of
the Congolese Foreign Ministry, Joska Kabongo, to discuss “and disassociate
from remarks made by DP William Ruto on DRC”.
“The remarks were personal and do not reflect the
position of the government of Kenya.”
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