URP unhappy in government, MP claims

Top State jobs expected to be unveiled in the New Year have triggered unease in the Jubilee government as the coalition partners jostle for their share.

The matter is allegedly threatening a major break up in the coalition made up of The National Alliance (TNA) led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and the United Republican Party under Deputy President William Ruto even as insiders work around the clock to salvage the situation.

Yesterday, Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter told the Sunday Nation that the Kalenjin nation was getting increasingly impatient and warned that the ongoing “cover up” of the matter would not last for long.

Mr Keter claimed that the Deputy President was also unsettled by the state of affairs in the Jubilee government but was being blackmailed.

“Things are not working as expected. The appointments are skewed towards one party yet our people were told this is a 50-50 power sharing plan,” said the legislator.

In a candid interview with the Sunday Nation, Mr Keter claimed that though most URP leaders were concerned, most of them were timid and preferred discussing the matter off the record.

“I want Kenyans to listen to what I am saying. Anybody claiming that these are lies should come with hard facts to challenge me,” he added.

According to Mr Keter, the Deputy President is a thoroughly frustrated man in government but is unable to take any action due to lack of an alternative political strategy at the moment.

“We meet Mr Ruto, look at him and talk. These things are discussed but he fears talking about this matter in public. He fears ridicule from ODM and Cord supporters,” Mr Keter stated.

The legislator further claimed that those who have gone public on the silent discord within the coalition are quickly summoned and cautioned.

“When Senator Charles Keter spoke about some issues the other day, he was summoned and told to go slow; and even me when I first raised concerns about this issue in Kericho they called me but I told them off . If I must be a sycophant I can only be one for the people of Nandi Hills. I am very bitter about this,” the MP stated.

“A group of sycophants and well known corrupt personalities have crept back into government and are fast taking control of the President and his deputy. This is what I am opposing,” he added.

Mr Keter further claimed that Kenya is being mortgaged to China, saying the debt ceiling had been broken following the launch of the standard gauge railway construction by the President in Mombasa two weeks ago.

“We are going to pay Sh400 billion extra for the new railway line then sack 100,000 Kenyans in the public service citing lack of money; fire people from parastatals who are close to some of them. It is so painful,” the MP said.

Mr Keter said URP legislators will be pushing for financial independence for the Office of the Deputy President, claiming that most Rift Valley legislators were unhappy with the subordinate treatment accorded to the office.

“We are pushing for changes to have the Deputy President accorded full financial independence. And we want to appeal to our TNA colleagues to understand that we love Jubilee but if they are not going to treat us with respect then it will be unfortunate,” he said.

Though many of the party MPs we spoke to did not want to go public, their complaints touched on alleged skewed state appointments and plans to dismantle several parastatals under the ministries headed by Cabinet secretaries nominated by the Deputy President.

They are also concerned about the position of the President’s new Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua whom they claimed has taken over some of the responsibilities they expected should be in Mr Ruto’s office.

“We are also concerned about the diplomatic appointments. Strategic diplomatic destinations like Beijing, Tokyo, Britain, Seoul and Washington, among others, have already been filled and we are not happy about these schemes,” said one URP MP.

Yesterday, Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga, who while denying there were issues in the coalition, asked for patience from supporters.
“We have no problems and even if they are there, they will be dealt with accordingly,” he stated.

He further warned that it was difficult for President Kenyatta or anyone to try to undermine URP or the Kalenjin, arguing that 50 MPs are from the community.

The President is expected to make several appointments next year including those of diplomats and heads of parastatals.

But some are pushing to have the positions filled competitively before those appointed ambassadors can be subjected to parliamentary vetting as required by the Constitution.

TNA chairman and Nominated MP Johnson Sakaja yesterday admitted hearing complaints about issues in the coalition but claimed they were generated by external forces dreaming of wrangles similar to those experienced in the grand coalition.

“People talking about this are obviously individuals working for our opponents. We can only urge them to stop it,” Mr Sakaja said, adding that Mr Ruto is privy to all state appointments.