Congolese Senator demands apology from Ruto over insult

• Feb 16, 2022

Congolese Senator demands apology from Ruto over insult

By Correspondent

A Congolese Senator Francine Muyumba (pictured) has castigated Deputy President William Ruto over his remarks on the availability of livestock in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

Speaking during a public engagement forum in Nyeri, Ruto urged residents to focus on milk production, saying there is a readily available market in the DRC, which has a population of over 90 million but has no cows. 

But his remarks did not go well with a section of Congolese people including Senator Muyumba, who is also an activist.

The Haut-Katanga senator demanded an apology from Ruto, terming his remarks as an insult to the people of DRC.

"Mr. Vice 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, EquityBCDC is currently making money in Congo, this is an insult," Muyumba wrote. 

She also called on the Kenyan deputy president to be diplomatically conscience, terming DRC as a friend of Kenya. 

"We are friends to #KENYA, A candidate running for the highest office of the Country William Ruto need to be diplomatically conscience as KENYA needs to strengthen economic ties in the region for Kenya’s internal Economic growth. Kenya Airway is now flying in some of our big cities," she added.

Ruto made the gaffe a few days after he appointed Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Ababu Namwamba as the Head of International Relations in his presidential campaign secretariat.

 “We have worked closely with Ababu over the past ten years on many fronts, and I have come to value his leadership, experience, focus and empathy. It is because of those qualities that I could not be more grateful to have him in our campaign team,” Ruto is quoted as saying.

 “With his considerable diplomatic talents, deep knowledge of the continent, strong network in the global stage and unwavering determination, I am confident in his role within my presidential campaign,” added the deputy president.

Namwamba, who served as Budalang’i Member of Parliament between 2007 and 2017, was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as Foreign Affairs ministry CAS in January 2018.

He unsuccessfully attempted to defend his seat on Labour Party Ticket in the 2017 polls, losing out to ODM candidate Raphael Wanjala.