Ruto denies political alliance with Uhuru

Agriculture minister William Ruto has denied the existence of a political alliance between him and his Cabinet colleague Uhuru Kenyatta.

The minister further denied that an alliance between Kalenjin members of parliament and their Central province counterparts had been mooted in the run up to the two crucial debates in parliament last week.

Legislators from the Rift Valley were said to have struck a deal to support with their counterparts from Central to support the amendment of the Mau Report in parliament.

Reports had it that the MPs allied to Mr Ruto were to reciprocate this gesture by throwing their weight behind the besieged Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission director Aaron Ringera and his team.

But, Mr Ruto refuted this claims saying that they were the fabrication of the media whom he noted was hell-bent on spreading lies, rumours and gossip meant to portray MPs in bad light.

“What you see in the media is total lies there is no political deal and I want to tell them that time for politics is not now,” he said adding that the claims in the media is like chasing a mirage.

He termed the claims as porojo na upuzi adding that it was a waste of time talking about it because it was nonexistent.

“These things you see in the newspapers do not help improve the lives of Kenyans and it has no place in our country,” he added.

The minister was speaking during a fundraiser in aid of Kisanana secondary school in Mogotio constituency on Saturday. He regretted that the media was focusing too much on politics at the expense of national development adding that it was reversing the gains made over the years.

He said that he can only support an alliance which will help reduce poverty, fight hunger and ensure national development, he said. Mr Ruto said that he was keen on changing the direction of the country to one which every citizen can be proud of.

“We want to change the direction of this country so that every Kenyan is proud to live in. We cannot be proud of a country where people are hopeless because of hunger and a bad economy,” Mr Ruto added.

Environment minister John Michuki claimed in the floor of the House that some MPs were trading Mau issue with the Ringera adding that the actions by some MPs he did not name made him feel ashamed.

Kalenjin MPs led by former minister Isaac Ruto denied this claims during a press gathering saying that they were not party to it.

Efforts by a section of MPs to push for the amendment of the reports tabled by two parliamentary committees which declared the reappointments of the KACC directors illegal was overwhelmingly defeated after Rift Valley MPs voted for the adoption of the reports without any changes.

Some MPs from Central province who feel betrayed by their Rift Valley counterparts have publicly owned up to the existence of a deal between the legislators from the two regions.

Mr Ruto has been conducting extensive tours of the Rift Valley making four of such visits on Saturday where he addressed locals in Esageri in Eldama Ravine, Tot in Marakwet and Churo in Baringo East on the same day.

He said that he was keen on fostering unity among Kalenjin and Kenyans as a whole, some legislators have publicly declared their support for the minister in his presidential bid.

However, he has remained silent on the issue only hinting that he was headed for big things in the future. During the fundraisers on Saturday he reiterated that he will not let down his supporters when the time comes.

The minister also expressed his dislike of the Bill that seeks for the establishment of a local tribunal to prosecute perpetrators of post election violence. The bill is spearheaded by Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara.

He said that he will oppose any move to prosecute innocent youths while those who stole the election are left to go scot free. Mr Ruto also claimed that the two principals should be the first to be charged for their roles in the post election violence.

He was accompanied by cabinet colleague Professor Hellen Sambili and MPs Fred Kapondi, Luka Kigen, William Cheptumo, Moses Lessonet among other leaders.