North Rift leaders oppose plans to ditch ODM

A group of professionals from the North Rift are opposed to plans by Kalenjin MPs to woo the community to ditch ODM in favour of another political party.

The professionals led by Moi University law lecturer Onesmus Kipchumba argue that forming another party to cater for the interests of the community, amounts to dividing the country along tribal lines.

They expressed fears that the party would lack a national outlook and thus risked being isolated from the rest of Kenyans.

Mr Kipchumba said what Kenyans expect is for political parties to be strengthened by accommodating divergent views and not necessarily jumping ship when there are differences.

The professionals appealed to legislators blaming Prime Minister Raila Odinga for suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto’s woes to separate politics from the independence of the Judiciary.

“With the new political dispensation in place following the promulgation of the new Constitution, we need to understand and leave the Judiciary to work independently,” said Mr Kipchumba.

The professionals said MPs and advisors allied to the PM and Mr Ruto should close ranks and shun divisive politics.

“We need to close the gap between the two leaders so that we don’t cultivate a culture of bitterness and hatred amongst our people.

Let’s call a spade by its real name instead of poisoning the minds of those who have confidence in us with lies,” the lawyer said.

Recently, during a rally in Keiyo South district attended by Mr Ruto, some MPs said they were contemplating decamping to another party because they had been short-changed in ODM.

In another rally at Turbo in his constituency on Sunday, Mr Ruto blamed Mr Odinga for delaying the resettlement of internal refugees and for ignoring the plight of Mau evictees.

Mr Ruto’s allies have also openly stated that Mr Odinga engineered his suspension, to weaken him politically and frustrate his 2012 presidential ambitions.

Some MPs allied to Mr Ruto are said to be planning to challenge the Prime Minister’s position in Parliament by sponsoring a motion seeking to topple him from the premiership.

But, Mr Kipchumba said Kenyans should be wary of those promoting politics of hatred at the expense of unity ahead of 2012 general election saying it would be detrimental for some communities to 'vote in bitterness’.