Duale, Ruto owe this country an a apology

The public spat between House Majority Leader Aden Duale and Governor Isaac Ruto in Narok demonstrated the depth to which political leaders can sink.

Mr Ruto, who is the chairman of the Council of Governors, has antagonised the top leadership of his sponsoring party, URP, and the larger Jubilee Coalition, with his unrelenting push for a referendum on more cash for counties.

Matters have not been made any better by Mr Ruto’s intransigent approach that has earned him the epithet of a rebel from within.

But that was not enough reason for Mr Duale to insult the governor in the manner he did. With the drama playing out in the full stare of Deputy President William Ruto, it was evident that caution had been thrown to the winds.

UTMOST DECORUM

Holders of public offices are expected to carry themselves with utmost decorum. This means that they must be slow to anger, measured in language and temperate in character. That was not the case here. The conduct of both Mr Duale and Mr Ruto was despicable.

Even though it would be easy to apportion blame for such tantrums especially in front of visiting dignitaries from neighbouring Tanzania, it would not, at this juncture be prudent, for we have no way of knowing the under-currents at play.

But what is incontestable is that these two worthies failed to mind their language in front of guests and in that way served this country very badly by making it a laughing stock. Quite simply, you do not wash your dirty linen in public, however much you may differ politically.

On balance, political contests are not platforms for verbal brawls. Both leaders owe Kenyans an apology – personally and publicly. They failed to be role models and failed this country as well.