Ruto moves to end discontent
What you need to know:
- Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter Wednesday insisted that the President and his deputy must address the concerns raised by leaders from the region, warning that cosmetic solutions would backfire.
- “We know very well that the visit has been planned to test the waters. But our people are waiting for tangible responses. We want our people in jobs and we don’t expect Jubilee leaders to tell us they are planning to retrench — we were promised jobs,” said the MP.
Deputy President William Ruto has moved to stem boiling political discontent in the Rift Valley by meeting senators and MPs from his party.
And in what is seen as a political scheme to ease tension following claims by some leaders that the United Republic Party is not getting what it bargained for in the Jubilee government, President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to tour Eldoret, Kericho and Bomet next Monday and Tuesday.
Kericho Senator Charles Keter said about 50 MPs attended the meeting at Mr Ruto’s Harambee Avenue office.
“The President is coming to visit the region to thank the people for voting for him and the Jubilee coalition. We met to discuss the venues,” Mr Keter said. “There is nothing political about our Tuesday meeting. We simply focused on the venues,” he said.
A spokesman at the DP’s office said leaders from Kericho, Bomet, Uasin Gishu, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi and Bomet attended.Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter Wednesday insisted that the President and his deputy must address the concerns raised by leaders from the region, warning that cosmetic solutions would backfire.
“We know very well that the visit has been planned to test the waters. But our people are waiting for tangible responses. We want our people in jobs and we don’t expect Jubilee leaders to tell us they are planning to retrench — we were promised jobs,” said the MP.
He said the region was concerned that the sharing of jobs had not been completely effected after the formation of the Cabinet, adding that signs of skewed appointments and corruption were creeping back.
“In the past eight months the cost of a kilogramme of tea leaves has gone down from Sh22 to Sh14. National Cereals and Produce Board driers in most parts of the Rift Valley are dysfunctional and poor supply of fertiliser has caused an anticipated low harvest. We want solutions,” he declared.
“We promised Mau Forest evictees that Christmas will not find them in the roadside camps. It is now 14 days to Christmas and the President is yet to fulfil his promise,” Mr Keter said.
The youthful MP also urged the President and his deputy to tame Majority Leader Aden Duale, saying “he is rocking the boat from within.”
“We are thinking of ejecting Mr Duale after the recess if he doesn’t show respect for other leaders. We can’t take insults from him anymore,” Mr Keter said.
But Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga said Mr Keter was speaking for himself.
“He is a joker who is speaking only for himself and he knows it as I have confronted him and told him as much,” Mr Chepkonga said.
