Ruto says Rift arms race 'rumours'

Agriculture minister William Ruto has dismissed as "rumours" claims that communities in the Rift Valley province are rearming in readiness for another round of violence in 2012.

“Whoever is creating this rumours is doing the country a disservice as the rumours will only create tension and anxiety,” Mr Ruto said.

“It is very dangerous for people to make such unsubstantiated rumours on citizens arming themselves,” said Mr Ruto at the Ministry's headquarters Thursday after flagging off a consignment of seeds for distribution ahead of the expected rains.

The allegations have started causing concern in the region, which was the epicentre of the December 2007 post election violence that left 1,300 people dead and 650,000 others displaced following a disputed presidential election.

According to their report, arms dealers were doing booming business selling AK 47 and G3 rifles to members of the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities in the Rift Valley.

The Centre for Human Rights chief executive officer, Mr Ken Wafula, was quoted confirming the claims.

He said some communities in the region are arming themselves with guns, which have found their way into the area from East Pokot, Turkana, Samburu and Baringo.

Chief Mediator Kofi Annan raised the matter with government officials during his three-day visit to the country.

However, Mr Annan who left Kenya on Wednesday said he had been assured that there is no large scale re-arming of militias.

The government has also denied the allegations.

Mr Ruto asked Internal Security minister Prof George Saitoti to release an official statement regarding the claims.

The minister went on to say that anyone talking about 2012 is not doing anything good to the country.

“All this issues about succession and what will happen after 2012 are not important now,” he said.

He added that the issues leaders should be addressing is how to get the country out of poverty and how the IDPs should resettled.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka had on Wednesday talked about a political alliance for people of the Rift Valley, Central and Eastern provinces, which he said was in the offing.

The alliance, Mr Musyoka had further said, would later seek support from residents of Nyanza, Western, Coast and North Eastern provinces.

He had made the statement in the presence of Mr Ruto at Kangundo district where the two had gone to witness distribution of seeds donated by the Japanese government.

The VP even said he would work closely with the Agriculture minister to explore ways of uniting the people of the Rift Valley.

But on Thursday, Mr Ruto, who is also the Eldoret North MP, said: “Instead of talking about 2012 lets re-direct our energies to what will add value to this country.”

He said the difficult task he is facing as a leader is how he will help in transforming the agriculture sector to ensure food security in the country.