Defiant Ruto scoffs at his sacking

Former Higher Education minister William Ruto on Wednesday said his sacking was because of his performance.

“I am very proud of the work I have done as a minister in the Agriculture and Higher Education ministries and I have been fired because of my extraordinary performance,” said the Eldoret North MP. (Read: Ruto faces sack as Raila targets ODM rebels)

Speaking at Kiptanui Primary School in his Eldoret North constituency, Mr Ruto however, said he left the ministry a long time ago.

“They are just wasting their time to remove me from the ministry that I left long time ago,” he said.

He went on: “If you ask them why they have dropped me as a minister they will give you all sorts of excuses and they will not tell you about my performance because they are afraid of it.”

He said that it was sycophancy and mediocre that had been rewarded and not merit as had been championed by the current government.

“They claimed that former President Moi was rewarding his sycophants. What is the difference between Moi and the current regime?” posed Mr Ruto.

He said that Kenya would be changed by leaders who perform and not those who are rewarded because of their sycophancy.

At the same time, leaders in Trans-Nzoia have welcomed the reappointment of Sirisia MP Moses Wetang’ula to the Cabinet.

More than 21 councillors led by former Kitale deputy mayor Herbert Wambaya and politician Orie Rogo Manduli said the return of Mr Wetang’ula to the Foreign Affairs ministry was timely.

They thanked President Kibaki for reappointing their party (Ford Kenya) leader to Cabinet.

Ford Kenya leaders and supporters jumped the streets in Kitale to express their excitement over the President’s action to give Mr Wetang’ula back his job after he stepped aside over a financial scandal.

“We are excited and we thank the President for returning out party leader to Cabinet,” said a jubilant Mr Wambaya.

In Kapenguria supporters of the Rev Julius Murgor lauded his appointment as an assistant minister for Environment and Mineral Resources.

The Kapenguria electorate led by Mr Joseph Rengatom, the CDF manager of Kapenguria constituency, said the appointment is a gift to the Pokot community.

“We welcome the appointment of our MP by the President and the Prime Minister. He will use his position to have the several mineral resources in the region exploited,” said council chairman Jackson Kenyatta.

But supporters of Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa who expected his elevation to the Cabinet were disappointed.

Really disappointed

“We had high hopes that our MP would be appointed to Cabinet. We are really disappointed,” said a disgruntled supporter.

In South Mugirango the appointment of South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya as assistant minister for trade was welcomed. 

The docket was previously held by former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara. Recently Mr Nyamweya declared his support for Mr Odinga.

Reports by Jackline Moraa, Ouma wanzala and Benard Kwalia