President William Ruto has hit back at critics of what he wore to a wedding. He said personal dressing should not be a matter of public controversy, The Star reported. "The other day, someone was complaining about how I had dressed at a wedding. How is the coat any of your concern?" he said.
Ruto said he is deliberate about how he presents himself. He said he pays attention to what he says, the ideas he pushes, what he does and how he dresses. He added that people who are casual about their dressing and conduct are free to make that choice.
The President also accused his critics of inflating the prices of his clothes. He asked what separates those who complain about T-shirts from those who complain about a coat, shoes and a watch. "Even to cover for your emptiness, you exaggerate the prices of those items," he said. He urged Kenyans to drop "these small things" and focus on the government's development agenda and record.
The criticism came from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, according to The Star. Gachagua claimed that Ruto's shoes cost Sh25 million, his coat Sh20 million, his trousers Sh15 million and his shirt Sh5 million. Ruto wore the outfit at the wedding of his daughter, Charlene Ruto, to Isaya Yunge. He did not name Gachagua in the remarks The Star reported. The newspaper did not report any evidence for the prices.
At the wedding, Ruto wore a deep burgundy jacket with shiny lapels, a crisp white shirt, a black bow tie and dark trousers, The Star reported. He completed the look with a beige fedora with a dark band and a decorative walking stick. First Lady Rachel Ruto walked beside him. The family's outfits combined burgundy, white and brown.