DP Ruto Gives In To Pressure, Apologizes Over ‘No Cows’ in DRC Remarks

Deputy President William Ruto has apologized for remarks he made against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which enraged senior lawmakers in the country earlier on in the week.

Speaking in Nyeri as he popularized his “Bottom-up” economic approach on Tuesday, the DP claimed that DRC does not rear cows, indicating there is insufficient milk supply in the country.

“We have a market in DR Congo… these people who are singers… These people have a population of about 90 million but they don’t own any cow,” he said.

In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, the second in command, however, emphasized that his comments were not meant to be disrespectful.

Read: DRC Outraged Over DP Ruto’s ‘Cow’ Remarks

“My speech was informal, and my use of certain effects was purely to underscore the magnitude of the opportunity and the urgency of the moment to a local audience. It was not intended to be disrespectful in any way,” he said through his Communications Director Hussein Mohamed.

“I regret any misunderstanding that may have arisen on account of my speech, and take this opportunity to assure the government and people of the DRC of my profound admiration and high regard.”

Earlier, Francine Muyumba Nkanga criticized the DP, saying that his remarks were insulting to the Congolese people.

“Mr. Vice Preisident @WilliamsRuto, 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 (sic),” she tweeted.

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Dr George Masafu, Kenya’s ambassador to the DRC, intervened on Wednesday to defuse tensions sparked by the country’s second-in-command.

“The embassy has informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi on the negative reactions that the comments have triggered among the business community and general populace in the DRC,” Masafu said.

“The Kenyan embassy wishes to reiterate that the government and the people [of Kenya] share a deep and respectful; historical relationship with the government and the people of DRC. This relationship stretches back to the independence of our respective countries.

“The Embassy reassures the Government and people of the DRC that the Government of Kenya will continue encouraging the citizens of both our countries to continue engaging and building strong partnerships especially at this historic moment when the DRC prepares to join the East African Community.”

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Also chiding the UDA leader was ODM’s Raila Odinga who stated that latter’s sentiments were “a manifestation of a reckless lack of vision and foresight; a pathetic failure to see where opportunities abound for Kenya, DRC produces”.

“As a person who has worked diligently alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta in deepening the ties that bind our two countries, I have been very disturbed and deeply disappointed by utterances of deputy president William Ruto that poured scorn in an otherwise friendly and enterprising nation that also holds  Kenya in high esteem.”