Rift Valley MPs disown Raila
Agriculture Minister William Ruto joins Kaptel Moran dancers from Nandi in a jig during a harambee in aid of needy students in Emgwen constituency held at Kapsabet Showground on Monday. 14 Rift Valley legislators attended the function. JARED NYATAYA
What you need to know:
- Division in ODM as lawmakers throw their weight behind Ruto in next election
Sharp divisions emerged in the Orange Democratic Movement on Monday with 14 Rift Valley MPs declaring they would not back Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the 2012 elections.
The leaders said they would, instead, throw their weight behind Agriculture minister William Ruto.
This comes a day after Mr Ruto was quoted in a section of the press accusing Mr Odinga of sponsoring a censure motion against him in Parliament over the maize scandal.
The MPs also challenged their Cabinet colleagues who are dissatisfied with the power-sharing deal in the grand coalition Government to quit.
“Those who are dissatisfied with the deal should quit and we will take over the positions,” said Dr Julius Kones, who took the lead in backing Mr Ruto.
Another tribe
The MPs, among them assistant ministers William Chepkuto (Constitutional Affairs), Charles Keter (Energy) and Jackson Kiptanui (Environment), said the Kalenjin community would no longer support a presidential candidate from another tribe.
“We supported Uhuru Kenyatta in 2002 and he failed and we then supported Raila Odinga and he has also failed. This time we will field one of our own,” said Mr Isaac Ruto of Chepalungu.
Cherangany’s Joshua Kutuny accused the Prime Minister of favouring people from Nyanza in key appointments.
“Raila has contravened the covenant he entered with party supporters from other communities. It is the Luos who are enjoying the fruits of the half bread allocated to ODM in the grand coalition,” he told a Kapsabet meeting attended by Mr Ruto who, however, steered off criticism against Mr Odinga.
He said the grand coalition Government was committed to implementing its pledges.
“The next General Election is not an immediate issue to Kenyans. We must work together to change the destiny of Kenyans and create a just society,” he said.
