Kenyans Take On Each Other Over William Ruto's "Go To Heaven" Remarks

• President William Ruto is on record saying that sugar industry cartels should either leave Kenya, go to jail or go to heaven
• His remarks irked a section of Kenyans, including the Law Society of Kenya and Azimio la Umoja senators
• A section of Kenyans termed the remark as not befitting of the head of state's office and demanded he denounced it

President William Ruto has in recent days sternly warned those frustrating his administration from delivering its promises and serving Kenyans.

Go to heaven

Specifically, Ruto, who has publicly issued such warnings to armed bandits in the North Rift and Northern Kenya, warned individuals he described as cartels in the sugar industry, this time, so sternly that Kenyans variedly responded.

Speaking at the back of the disappearance of Kabras Sugar owner Jaswant Singh Rai who was kidnapped on Friday, August 25, by unknown people.

"Anyone stealing money from the government should either leave Kenya, go to jail or go to heaven," the president said.

Hallo mbinguni

Instant reactions to the statement that has gone viral across social media spaces insinuated that a section of Kenyans believed the president was threatening citizens with death, something they felt was out of order.

Speaking on Sunday, August 27, in Bungoma, Ruto made an apparent reference to Rai as one of the individuals he perceived as cartels frustrating the growth of the country's sugar sector.

"Even for those cartels, do not worry that anyone of Indian descent will convince me otherwise; it is not possible. I heard of Rai. Who is Rai? No, that's not possible. This is people's property, and I will not allow anyone to take advantage," Ruto said.

Kenya sugar sector cartels

The president expressed his disappointment about court cases involving sugar companies, saying that he must have his way.

Law Society of Kenya President Eric Theuri called out the president over his remarks and asked him to denounce them.

Azimio la Umoja Senators led by Stewart Madzayo condemned the statement by the head of state saying it was inflicting fear on investors, yet there were better ways to address issues dogging the sugar sector in the country.

X app user Sagini laughed at Ruto's remarks, saying they were not befitting of his office.

Michael Kimani Masai, however, defended the president's remarks, arguing that, if saying "go to hell" was not offensive, then "go to heaven" should be an equally tolerable statement.

Even as the debate continues, the president has not been moved by pressure to denounce his statement, giving the matter a wide berth instead.