Deputy President William Ruto has faced backlash following a personal attack on Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu.
While marshalling support for his presidential bid in Kitui on Tuesday, the deputy president appeared to question whether Ngilu, who is a widow, could get married at her advanced age.
“Where did she (Ngilu) go? Did she go to Bondo? Did you deny her votes? Such an old woman like her cannot get married. Who will marry her,” Ruto stated.
Further, the UDA presidential candidate drummed up support for former Nairobi Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke, who he stated was best suited for the job.
The DP’s sentiments were not well received by Governor Ngilu, who responded by saying that women will play a critical role in ensuring that Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga wins the presidential elections on August 9.
According to Ngilu, anyone who could not respect women did not deserve to be in a position of leadership as they could not respect anyone else.
“If you cannot respect women, you cannot respect anybody else- Because it is from women you come. @WilliamsRuto, you can insult women all you want. but in this election, women will make a major statement,” tweeted Ngilu.
Governor Ngilu agreed to withdraw from the Kitui governorship race after Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga brokered an agreement with Wiper over Mr Julius Malombe’s candidacy.
Mr Odinga then assured Kitui residents that he will be traveling the country with Ms Ngilu and that if he is elected president, he will appoint her.
The 70-year-old governor was married to Michael Ngilu- a Kenyan engineer who passed on in 2006 while undergoing treatment in South Africa.
