Elders call for end to rebellion against DP Ruto in Rift Valley

The Rift Valley Council of Elders has summoned Baringo Senator Gideon Moi for grilling over growing rebellion against Deputy President William Ruto in the region.

The elders have given Mr Ruto’s rivals in the region a 14-day ultimatum to reconcile with him and work with the Jubilee administration.

They said this would be for the good of the Kalenjin community.

The elders, who recently warned that the political division in the region threatens to cost the community the presidency in 2022, have now challenged former President Daniel arap Moi to reign in his son to help stop the rivalry between him and the DP.

GIDEON MOI A SPOILER

In an exclusive interview with the Nation in Nakuru, council chairman Mr Gilbert Kabage termed the Baringo Senator a spoiler of the Deputy President’s 2022 ambitions.

“Senator Moi is on a mission to divide the Kalenjin vote. We urge his father, retired President Moi, to stop his son from engaging in dirty politics,” said Mr Kabage, flanked by other elders.

He called on the Baringo Senator, Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and other leaders who are perceived rivals of the DP to apologise to their electorate and join the Jubilee bandwagon.

“All those who have been against the DP should come out in a public rally, apologise and join the new Jubilee party to be inaugurated later this month, failure to which they will be cursed and disowned,” warned Mr Kabage.

The elders’ sentiments came two days after Jubilee’s Aaron Cheruiyot floored Kanu’s Paul Sang in a hotly contested senatorial by-election in Kericho seen by many political pundits to be a litmus test for the 2017 general elections.

A section of Jubilee rebels campaigned for the Kanu candidate in the by-election, a move that has not gone down well with the elders.

SOILED HANDS

But the regional elders now say the leaders ‘soiled their hands’ in opposing the DP and must wash them before they are allowed to eat with him again at the same table.

They also cautioned the Kalenjin community against allowing leaders to divide them ahead of 2017 elections.

“The Rift Valley is firmly behind President Uhuru Kenyatta. Any person opposing the DP is an imposter,” declared Mr Kabage.

They elders also took issue with Nandi Hills MP Alfed Keter, a frequent critic of Mr Ruto, whom they described as politically immature.

“Keter is junior in politics and should go slow and seek the DP’s advice instead of tainting his name every time,” said Mr John Kipkogei, another elder in the council.

DEFENDED RUTO

They defended Mr Ruto, accusing his opponents of political mudslinging.

“These leaders are being misled by outsiders to undermine our kingpin,” Mr Kimaiyo said.

“Ruto is just a stone throw away from the highest office. We should support our own to take over power after President Kenyatta,” said Mr Samuel Kiplangat, another elder.

Kanu leaders and other leaders including Mr Keter, Mr Johanna Ng’eno (Emurwa Dikirr), Mr Oscar Sudi (Kapseret) and the Bomet governor have been openly criticising the DP accusing him of failing to deliver on key projects he promised Kenyans.

However, Kanu Secretary-General Nick Salat and other politicians from the region have cautioned the Kalenjin community against blindly supporting the yet to be launched Jubilee party.

Mr Salat has told off rivals whom he said were beginning to panic over Kanu’s growing popularity in the vote-rich Rift Valley.

“We want to send a strong message to our rivals that this is just the beginning of tough times ahead for them. They have said that they would support a Kalenjin presidency in 2022 but we are saying why not 2017?” Mr Salat asked.