Junet defiant in wake of "Ruto unatisha nani" viral campaign clip

Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed has remained defiant in the wake of a viral video clip of himself talking about UDA presidential candidate William Ruto (now president-elect) in the run-up to the August 9 general election. 

Junet, the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Secretary General was speaking at a charged campaign rally in Narok County.

He said, addressing Ruto: "Safari hii utashindwa peupe na ukicheza, Kamiti mara moja. Tena sio 'Baba' atakuweka kamiti...ni watu kama sisi. Unatisha nani? William Ruto unatisha nani? (This time round, you will lose the election fair and square. And if you play around, you will be detained at Kamiti Maximum Prison. Who are you threatening?)

Azimio lost

Azimio's presidential candidate Raila Odinga was UDA's main challenger in the presidential ballot. Ruto won the race after garnering 7,176,141 votes (50.49%). Raila had 6,942,930 votes (48.85%). A failed petition at the Supreme Court confirmed that Ruto validly defeated Raila. 

The Supreme Court's decision marked the end of an effervescent period in which mutual mudslinging, political putdowns and unabashed pronouncements were the order of the day. 

 Political analyst Prof. Edward Kisiangani opines that Junet's statement "epitomised the Azimio arrogance and insults."

But Junet, replying to Kisiangani does not bat and eyelid. "I still stand by it (video). What can you do (?)" he posed. 

Interwebs replete

Fact-checkers, researchers, record keepers and even trolls have littered the interwebs with video clips of politicians being forced to eat their words, the campaign season bravado neutered by harsh reality of poll loss. 

On Friday, COTU (K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli retracted his oft pronouncements that "Ruto will never be president."

"I used to tell people to get used to Raila’s voice (as incoming president). I didn’t know I’d come back here to tell you to get used to the voice of William Samoei Ruto. See God’s work? You make your plans but His plans prevail… William Ruto outsmarted us. He had the political skills and smartness," he said. 

Ruto will be sworn in at Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi, on Tuesday, September 13.