Deputy President William Ruto takes on opponents in Rift Valley

Deputy President William Ruto on Friday said he will not allow Rift Valley to be divided by leaders for their selfish interests.

He said as the highest ranking political leader in the region, he will not allow people in the region to be misled by individuals with "no agenda or plan".

He accused some leaders in the region of seeking to divide communities on ethnic and political lines to achieve their selfish political interests at the expense of peace and unity of all Kenyans.

Mr Ruto urged residents to support the Jubilee Party.

“Those opposing the Jubilee Party want to take you to the opposition. They have no plan. They cannot offer alternative leadership. Which government can they form?

“Rift Valley is in government to stay. They (opponents) cannot provide alternative leadership because they have no agenda for the people,” said the Deputy President.

He was speaking at Ngiito Secondary School grounds in Narok West Constituency.

“The contest will be about the unity and the hope of Kenyans and those who believe in yesterday and the day before,” said Mr Ruto.

Four MPs and Narok Governor Samuel Tunai backed Mr Ruto’s remarks that Rift Valley residents should remain united.

The MPs who accompanied Mr Ruto are Patrick Ntutu (Narok West), Mathias Robi (Kuria West), Kore Lemein (Narok South) and Narok Women Representative Soipan Tuiyan.

The leaders said supporting the Jubilee Party would ensure the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017 and subsequent election of Mr Ruto as president in 2022.

“We want to make it clear that we have resolved to throw our support behind the Deputy President in uniting the people of Rift Valley and Kenyans under the Jubilee Party,” said Mr Ntutu.

The leaders compared Mr Ruto’s opponents to grumblers who have nothing tangible to offer Kenyans.

“This is the genesis of dividing the Rift Valley bloc based on selfish interests. We will not allow this to happen,” said Mr Tunai.