Ruto snubs leaders’ meeting during Elgeyo-Marakwet tour

Deputy President William Ruto snubbed a planned closed-door leaders’ meeting during his Elgeyo-Marakwet County tour.

The DP’s personal assistant, Mr Farouck Kibet, who arrived at Chebiemit Secondary School a few minutes before his boss on Saturday, dismantled the programme and told the leaders to schedule the engagement for another day.

Among those at the school to receive Mr Ruto and attend the meeting were Governor Alex Tolgos and MPs Jackson Kiptanui (Keiyo South), William Kisang (Marakwet West) and Julius Murgor (Keiyo North), and Women Representative Susan Chebet.

DP’S BUSINESS

Mr Kibet said: “Forget about any meeting here. The DP’s business was to commission a road, address wananchi, then proceed to Iten for a funds drive.”

The leaders criticised the decision, saying the DP should have held the meeting since there were matters affecting the community that could not be addressed in public.

Some of the disappointed lawmakers said the DP had been misled into dismissing the planned meeting.

“It is disappointing that some individuals from the county and close to the Jubilee government frustrated the efforts to meet the DP for political reasons,” said a lawmaker who asked not to be named.

Former MP Francis Mutwol asked: “What prompted Mr Ruto to snub the meeting? He is not a frequent visitor here and what was wrong if he met the local leadership during this tour?”

Matters that were to be discussed with the DP included the disputes between the regional and the national governments.