You are fighting a losing battle, Ruto tells rebel Rift Valley MPs

Deputy President William Ruto on Sunday told off three Rift Valley MPs who have reprimanded him over maize pricing, telling them they are fighting a losing battle.

Mr Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany), Mr Silas Tiren (Moiben) and Mr Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) have in the past Weeks criticised the DP for allegedly being behind the maize scandal, which saw the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) pay brokers millions of shillings at the expense of ordinary farmers.

Mr Ruto reacted angrily to their public attacks, accusing them of misleading Rift Valley residents on maize production and pricing.

POLITICAL AGENDA

He said the three were pursuing a selfish political agenda that is not in tandem with that of the people.

“The MPs are misleading the people on the maize issue, yet they know that even in the tea, milk and coffee sectors, private sector player — not the government — are buying the produce in a free-market economy,” the DP said.

“Madness is doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results,” Mr Ruto added.

REMAIN FOCUSED

Mr Ruto at the same time said he had reconciled with former Bomet Governor and Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) party leader Isaac Ruto. He was speaking as 10 MPs from the Rift Valley, Coast and Central regions encouraged him to remain focused on his presidential ambition.

Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso, Senator Christopher Langat, Woman Rep Joyce Korir, and MPs Gideon Koskei (Chepalungu), Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Ronald Tonui (Bomet Central) Aisha Juma (Malindi), Gichuhi Mwangi (Tetu), Brighton Yegon (Konoin), Beatrice Kones (Bomet East), nominated Senator Alice Milgo, asked Kenyans to support the DP for the presidency in 2022.

They were speaking at Siongiroi in Chepalungu Constituency, Bomet County, after the DP presided over a fundraising at the local African Gospel Church (AGC).

The rebel MPs have lately been criticising Mr Ruto for allegedly being behind the maize scandal where brokers were paid millions of shillings by the National Cereals and Produce Board at the expense of ordinary farmers.

NATIONAL POLITICS

“I have held a series of meetings with Isaac and reconciled our differences. You must know that we are age mates and we have covered so much ground together. We have differed previously reconciled when I was in Kanu and he bolted out to Narc in the 2002 election, said Mr Ruto.

The DP added, “I wish to tell you that Isaac will be engaged in regional and national politics and development as Bomet Governor Dr Joyce Laboso engages in local issues. From now on, we will be sending him out to various regions in the country on development issues,”

On his part the former Governor said, “I have been engaged in talks with the DP for a good part of this year focusing on resolving national and regional issues affecting the people.”