The Vijana na Ruto youth political movement has called on the National Assembly to take action against Starehe MP Amos Mwago over remarks allegedly referring to President William Ruto as “takataka” during a political engagement in Nakuru last week.
The group wants Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula and Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah to have Mwago clarify on record whether he made the remarks and, if confirmed, require him to publicly and unreservedly apologise to the President and the nation before being allowed back onto the floor of the House.
Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi on Monday, Vijana na Ruto National Chairperson Isaac Ntarangwe said political criticism was legitimate but argued that elected leaders were expected to observe decorum when addressing the Head of State.
“Political criticism is legitimate and protected. Personal insults directed at the institution of the Presidency are not,” Ntarangwe said.
The group said there was a distinction between challenging government policies and allegedly demeaning the office of the President, which it said should be respected regardless of political affiliation.
Vijana na Ruto also urged the Speaker’s office to treat the matter as one of parliamentary decorum, warning that failure to address such conduct could set a precedent that undermines respect for the country’s highest office.
“We do not take this matter lightly. We make it because silence in the face of such conduct sets a precedent that erodes the respect owed to the highest office in the land, regardless of who occupies it today or in the future,” the group said in its written statement.
The movement further criticised political leaders it accused of abandoning the administration and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) after benefiting from its political support.
A speaker at the briefing also criticised the Gatundu South MP over actions involving a presidential portrait and questioned the political decisions of leaders who have moved from UDA to opposition formations ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The group said political loyalty should be accompanied by accountability and gratitude, urging young people to scrutinise leaders regardless of their political parties, regions or positions.
The movement also addressed recent violence in Homa Bay County, condemning political violence and calling on the National Police Service and other security agencies to conduct thorough and impartial investigations.
“We place on record our firm condemnation of political violence in all its forms, regardless of which side of the political divide,” the group said, while calling for anyone found responsible to be held accountable.
Vijana na Ruto described itself as an inter-party, broad-based youth lobby movement drawing members from different political parties and campaigning in support of President Ruto’s re-election.
The organisation used the briefing to urge young Kenyans to remain informed and organised while supporting what it described as the President’s development agenda.
It also called on young people to hold all political leaders accountable to the mandates they received from voters and to reject what it termed political opportunism.
“This movement was built on the conviction that young people deserve leaders who keep faith with them,” the statement said.
The movement’s officials who addressed the media included Ntarangwe, Director of Partnerships and Strategic Alliances Mutuma Moria, Communications and PR official Anne Mutheu, and Secretariat members Tinega Bryan, Yasin Buire and Karen Gatimu.
Vijana na Ruto said it remained committed to a “disciplined, accountable and united political movement,” with loyalty, gratitude and respect for national institutions forming part of its core principles.
The group called on the relevant parliamentary and political organs to act on its demands and said it remained available to provide further clarification on the issues raised.
