Ruto in broadside at critics ‘praying Hague cases go against him

From left: Deputy Presidency William Ruto, Deputy Secretary General of Jubilee Alliance Party Caleb Kositany, Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi and Uasin Gishu County Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno during the burial of Priscillah Jemeli Kositany, Caleb’s mother, at their home in Kabobo,, Uasin Gishu on April 18, 2015. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA |

What you need to know:

  • He spoke at Kabobo village in Uasin Gishu County during the burial of Mama Priscillah Jemeli Kositany, the mother of Jubilee Alliance Party deputy secretary Mr Caleb Kositany.
  • “Those who hoped to use the ICC cases against President Kenyatta and myself in the last election lost... let these three be warned that they will equally fail,” the DP said.
  • Contacted, Mr Kutuny, a former Cherangany MP, sought not to comment on the deputy president’s remarks.

Deputy President William Ruto is using his case in The Hague to whip up emotions in his political battle for control of the Rift Valley.

Specifically, he is accusing Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, Baringo Senator who is also Kanu chairman Gideon Moi and President Uhuru Kenyatta’s political advisor Joshua Kutuny of using his case in The Hague to fight him, claims the three denied.

On Friday, Mr Ruto was in Sururu, Mau Narok where he accused the leaders of praying that the case at the ICC goes against him. “In Kalenjin you do not wish your brother ill or death in the hope of taking that which he has,” Mr Ruto had said.

He told his critics in the Rift Valley that “may be people wanted to see him fight Mr Kenyatta the way Raila was fighting Mzee Kibaki. But Uhuru is my friend, I cannot fight him, and there’s nothing wrong he has done. We are in this government to stay,” he said as he appealed to the Kalenjin to stand by him.

He was at it again yesterday accusing Rift Valley leaders, including Mr Kutuny, of praying for his downfall and warned that “they would end up being buried in the political grave they are digging”.

Speaking in Kabobo Village in Uasin Gishu County during the burial of Mama Priscilla Jemeli Kositany, the mother of Jubilee Alliance Party deputy secretary Mr Caleb Kositany, he said in Kalenjin that Mr Moi, Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and Mr Kutuny had formed a clique to frustrate his bid for the presidency.

“Those who hoped to use the ICC cases against President Kenyatta and myself in the last election lost... let these three be warned that they will equally fail,” the DP said.

Senator Moi had earlier in the morning flown in to console the bereaved and left shortly before the Deputy President’s arrival. Mr Moi steered clear of politics. Mr Ruto asked the mourners to ignore his opponents and instead support the ruling Jubilee administration.

“In 2017, let us support President Kenyatta then come 2022 you all rally behind me so that we can also lead this country moving forward.

He was backed by Moiben MP Sila Tiren. “I want to tell all those who have been going up and down plotting to divide our people on political grounds that as leaders from this region, we fully support the President and his Deputy and so they should shape up or shape out,” said Mr Tiren.

Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando who also accompanied Mr Ruto said central region backed the deputy president.
“I want to assure all our brothers and sisters from the Rift Valley that as leaders from central Kenya, we are in support of the Deputy President. No one is going to tear down the Jubilee coalition,” he said.

But Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat said the DP’s sentiments were most unfortunate. “At no point have we ever said that (wished him bad luck on his ICC case). In fact, we have been praying for him and will continue to pray for him that his case is terminated as happened with the President’s case,” Mr Salat told Sunday Nation.

According to Mr Salat, the DP is just feeling political heat and is seeking public sympathy to regain what he has lost.

Reports by Dennis Lubanga, Elias Makori and Walter Menya