Ruto downplays row with Raila

Agriculture minister William Ruto was on Sunday diplomatic about his fall-out with Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying what was happening in ODM was a test of democracy.

Mr Ruto said that although he had differed with Mr Odinga on some issues, that did not mean he had any personal differences with the Prime Minister.

He gave the example of the eviction of squatters from Mau Forest, saying this had ignited the disagreement between him and Mr Odinga.
In the cold

The evictions, he said, left many poor families, including women and children, out in the cold.

The political differences between Mr Ruto and Mr Odinga have intensified in recent weeks, with a section of Rift valley MPs saying they would back the Agriculture minister in his 2012 presidential bid.

Mr Ruto maintained he had spoken against the Mau evictions because of the inhumane manner in which the government had handled them.

Although he supported the conservation of the water tower, he said, it was wrong for the government to carry out the evictions and turn a blind eye to the plight of those evicted.

“I was touched by the suffering of these poor women and children and spoke out on the issue but that has put me in a lot of trouble,” said Mr Ruto.

However, he said that the issue of evictions in the Mau had been discussed by the Cabinet, which agreed to resettle and compensate the settlers.

He spoke during a fundraiser in aid of the Maseno North Anglican Church diocese in Kakamega.

Mr Ruto was accompanied by Information minister Samuel Poghisio, assistant minister Asman Kamama and the Industrialisation permanent secretary, Prof John Lonyangapuo.

The minister said the government should avoid implementing policies which worsen the living conditions of the poor and the vulnerable.

Mr Ruto and Mr Poghisio criticised the Committee of Experts for failing to provide enough copies of the draft constitution to Kenyans so that they could read and scrutinise the document.

Mr Ruto said political leaders should be able to reach consensus on the contentious issues in the document to enable the country to get a new constitution next year.

The Eldoret North MP said sections of the draft proposing the different levels of government should be looked into because it would be too expensive to finance.

Mr Poghisio called for an extension of the 30-day period given to the public to read the document and submit their proposals, saying many Kenyans had not even seen a copy of the draft since it was made public.