Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto has faced heavy criticism from the citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Twitter over his remarks at a political rally in Kenya’s Nyeri County yesterday.

Speaking to a political gathering during his tour to the central part of Kenya on Tuesday, Mr Ruto could be heard in a viral video clip promising to open up investment avenues for Kenyans in DRC if elected president in August 2022.

“The DRC has 90 million people but does not have a single cow,” he said. He went on to say that most people were into music as he described them to be dressing like the rhumba musician Kanda Bongoman. He said in Kiswahili: “wanavaa long’i kwa tumbo (they put on high-waist trousers)”.

However, Ruto’s remarks were not going to augur well with DRC citizens online. As minutes gave rise to hours, the rage intensified as most of the critics demanded that Ruto withdraws his utterances immediately.

One of the first critics was senator Francine Muyumba, who is a former President of the Pan African Youth Union.

She said: “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; Equity BCDC is currently making money in Congo. This is an insult.

“We are friends to Kenya. A candidate running for the highest office of the Country need to be diplomatically conscience as Kenya needs to strengthen economic ties in the region for Kenya’s internal economic growth,” she added.