Rift widens in William Ruto’s home turf

As Rift Valley supremacy politics continues to draw reactions, Kerio Valley youths on Wednesday criticised Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto for his attacks on Deputy President William Ruto.

In Trans Nzoia, some United Republican Party members defected to Kanu, citing limited democratic space in URP.

And in Eldoret, a group of elders said supremacy wars among Kalenjin politicians were tearing the community apart.

The elders, drawn from Mt Elgon and Uasin Gishu, called for sobriety and respect in the turf wars that also feature Baringo Senator and Kanu leader Gideon Moi.

Led by Somek Community Chairman Francis Chepng’or, the elders called for respect and tolerance.

“We feel bad seeing our sons fighting in public. Any leader has a right to court the people, but this must be done in a respectful manner. They should seek other avenues to sort out their differences,” said Mr Chepng’or.

An elder, Mr James arap Koech from Uasin Gishu asked the three leaders to use elders and the clergy to come together.

“They all have followers and it will be very bad if they fight. There will be division in the community,” he said.

The Rev Peter Chemaswet said the leaders should be fighting over development.

“We can disagree over projects that will uplift our people, but we should be very accommodative,” he said.

BECOME BEGGARS

In Trans Nzoia, the defectors expressed disappointment with the campaign to dissolve URP in favour of Jubilee Alliance Party.

They said they were not ready to become beggars in a party “whose agenda and structures have been kept a well-guarded secret”.

Mr Yusuf Chepkole said they supported Senator Moi gunning for the presidency in 2017. “We are ready to begin a Kanu membership drive and our first target will be URP members,” he said. 

In Kerio Valley, youths led by their chairman Joel Kimaiyo Onyango said Governor Ruto was digging his political grave. Mr Onyango said former minister Franklin Bett, ex-Cord official Magerer Lang’at and Mr Musa Sirma had ditched the Opposition to join the Deputy-President.

URP officials on Wednesday said the party would discipline Governor Ruto for showing disrespect to the party that sponsored him in the last elections.

URP Secretary-General Fred Muteti said top officials would meet on Thursday.

“The working group will meet to discuss how to deal with him. His endless criticism is going out of hand,” he said.

Reported by Wycliffe Kipsang, Arthur Situma and Dennis Lubanga