Governor Isaac Ruto and Senator Gideon Moi praying for my conviction at The Hague, says DP

[Ab-Titchaz]

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi praying for my conviction at The Hague, says Deputy President William Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto admires a portrait of himself presented to him by Mzee James Martim when he visited Sururu Secondary School in Njoro, Nakuru County, on Friday.

Kenya: Deputy President William Ruto has sensationally claimed that Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi were silently praying that he is convicted of the criminal charges he is facing at The Hague so that the support he gets in the Rift Valley can be transferred to them.

An emotional DP told a rally at Sururu in Njoro Constituency, Nakuru County, yesterday that the heightened political activities in parts of Central Rift spearheaded by the Bomet governor and Senator Moi were motivated by the desire of the two leaders to benefit from his misfortune, noting that this was a taboo among the Kalenjin.

"I have tried with a lot of difficulties to understand why Isaac and Gideon are fighting me. If you see the duo inform them to continue digging the grave for Ruto, but remind them not to dig deep because they might find themselves inside the same," said the DP who, together with radio journalist Joshua Sang, has been charged at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity.

Some of Ruto's charges include murder and persecution for allegedly orchestrating attacks that left more than 1,000 people dead after the disputed 2007 presidential election.

Political struggles
Saturday, DP Ruto said the Bomet governor's campaigns to win support in the South Rift region were similar to overtures CORD presidential candidate Raila Odinga had made before the last general election.

"Raila said similar prayers and soon my name appeared in the ICC list . . . praying that Ruto gets jailed so that I can get out of his way, but God prevailed and the Jubilee government was voted in by a majority of Kenyans," said DP Ruto.

Nominated Senator Liza Chelule urged the residents of Nakuru to reject the Bomet governor's campaigns against the DP and instead rally behind the government.

"We know that one day the yoke that was wrongly fixed in the Deputy President's neck will become a thing of the past. The renewed political struggles right in front of him clearly indicates that some people are praying for the unfortunate, but we trust in God", said Chelule.

However, yesterday Governor Ruto dismissed these claims as strange coming from a man he had assisted when he faced other difficulties.

"I find the allegations strange and if anything, I have assisted him in very many things ranging from the maize scandal by defending him in Parliament. I also moved a motion to stop the Hague cases . . . I have tried everything to help him," said the Bomet governor, in reference to a parliamentary debate in which the DP was accused of illegally selling maize.

Yesterday, the Bomet governor said the DP had been trying to use the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to have him convicted of fraud in the recent anti-graft purge where the governor has been listed as among public officers under investigations.

"If anything, the DP would have me jailed by making fictitious allegations and misleading the President in an effort to ensure I am jailed. He is the one waging unjustified war on me to ensure I am fixed," said the Governor.

Senator Moi said his visits in the Rift Valley region have been to understand and address the problems facing local people, particularly improving the welfare of farmers so that they get better pay for their produce.

But speaking at a public rally yesterday, the Deputy President urged his supporters not to seek alternative leadership from the Rift Valley, saying they should support the newly-formed Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) which will be President Kenyatta's vehicle in 2017.

After that poll, the DP plans to use JAP for subsequent elections after he succeeds Uhuru, he said.

"Some people who are used to political greed and endless leadership wrangles cannot believe that we could work so well with the President and that is what this noise you hear is all about; the relationship we have with Uhuru compared with that of Kibaki and Raila is like day a night," the DP added.

The Deputy President, who addressed a similar rally at Nasuit in Njoro, scoffed at Kanu's initiative to expand its support base.

"This party initially belonged to Uhuru's father before former President Moi took over, then the current President who has abandoned it. This is a spent tool that can no longer appeal to the people of Kenya although they claim its fresh," said DP Ruto.

The Deputy President picked the same thread when he spoke during the burial of Mama Priscillah Kositany, an in-law to the Moi family in Kabobo Village Uasin Gishu.

"Retired President Moi moved from Kadu to Kanu and it was there that he ascended to presidency, what is wrong with forming JAP which President Kenyatta will use in 2017 as I wait to use the same party in 2022 and 2027," Ruto said.

The funeral was also attended by Gideon. Kanu has announced that it intends to expand its support base as part of efforts to invigorate the party.

The DP also waded into the debate sparked by controversial statements made by National Assembly Leader of Majority Adan Duale who announced that leaders from northern Kenyan would identify terrorists and their sympathisers, has led to accusations that he is protecting terrorists.

Ruto said those criticising Duale were misinformed. He said the Garissa Township MP and other leaders from Garissa had already resolved to assist the Government and security agencies to identify families whose sons or daughters fled the country to join the Somalia-based terror group Al-Shabaab.

Insecurity woes
On Thursday, 16 MPs, notably from President Uhuru's party The National Alliance (TNA) and some legislators from Ruto's United Republican Party (URP), called a press conference to demand that Duale steps aside.

However, Ruto dismissed these calls. "Instead, leaders should positively contribute to curbing insecurity and become part of the solution and not the problems. The constant blaming of the government will never stop these attacks or make things better," he said.

The DP said Kenya would not withdraw its troops from Somalia.

"We are not going to withdraw the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) from Somalia until order is attained, neither are we going to cede even an inch of this country to terrorists and all their other demands," said the DP.

Those who accompanied the Deputy President were, MP Mathias Robi (Kuria West), MP Joseph Kiuna (Njoto), MP Jacob Macharia (Molo), Nakuru county deputy governor Joseph Ruto and MP Paul Savimbi (Chepalungu).

Standard Digital News - Kenya : Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi praying for my conviction at The Hague, says Deputy President William Ruto

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Deputy President William Ruto faces rising rivalry in the Rift

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto (left) and his Kericho counterpart Prof Paul Chepkwony, Baringo Senator Gideon Moi and his Narok counterpart Stephen Ole Ntutu, after a meeting they held at Mara Safari Club in Maasai Mara in Narok recently. [PHOTO: GILBERT KIMUTAI/STANDARD]

By SILAH KOSKEI AND MICHAEL OLLINGA
Updated Saturday, April 25th 2015 at 00:00 GMT +3

When Deputy President (DP) William Ruto addressed mourners at a funeral in Uasin Gishu County last weekend, he was visibly angry and emotional.

And this character has lately defined the DP in his public and political addresses in the Rift Valley where he is facing growing political rivalry from Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and Kanu Chairman Gideon Moi.

Pundits have noted that his latest trend of making wild utterances might have a heavy weight on his political ambition of clinching the presidency in 2022.

"His emotional reaction in public has gone beyond his stature and mentioning names is likely to have a negative impact on his political career," says Philip Chebunet, head of Communications Department at the University of Eldoret.

He adds: "The current woes in the Rift Valley are slowly making Ruto change, and he is increasingly becoming antagonistic in his public utterances."

On Tuesday, Kanu leaders from the region demanded that the DP apologises over claims that Bomet governor, Gideon and President Uhuru Kenyatta's political advisor Joshua Kuttuny, were praying for his conviction at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

See also: Governor Ruto warns his accusers

During the burial, the DP said: "I am telling them that it is not good to wish your brother ill and they should check the depth of the hole they are digging for me because they might be the political casualties."

What has caused even more fury was the Deputy President's pronouncement during a burial that Kanu was a ‘corpse'.

Bomet Governor said the DP's assertion was far-fetched because the same leaders he is accusing have been steadfast in supporting him on the ICC case.

"I have been with William in the case at the ICC, my record is clear even in Parliament. I still don't believe that he has a case to answer, I know he is innocent," said Ruto, who is also chairman of the Council of Governors.

He added: "How can he purport to know what one is praying, how can he be privy to our prayers, how can he know what I pray. It is my communication with God. He should not sink that low as to introduce issues of prayers into straight forward matters."

Kanu stalwarts led by the Secretary General Nick Salat, West Pokot Senator John Lonyangapuo, his nominated colleague Zipporah Kittony and regional officials said the DP must take responsibility for his public utterances against their chairman and the party and he must apologise.

But of interest to the DP is his political grip on the populous Rift Valley region. It is his political backbone. However, this grip is under threat from a vicious campaign spearheaded by former ruling party Kanu.

At stake for the DP is the fragmenting of the more than 3 million vote-rich bloc. Kanu seems to be gaining traction in Bomet, Baringo and West Pokot counties. In February, 300 URP supporters in Trans Nzoia decamped to Kanu.

The south Rift region, largely occupied by the Kipsigis, a Kalenjin sub-clan, has most votes in the Rift Valley. Governor Ruto comes from this sub-clan which essentially forms the battlefield between the two Rutos. South Rift has approximately 60 per cent of the 3 million votes that form the DP's political bedrock.

What seems to have complicated matters further for the Deputy President was the breakfast meeting at Mara Hotel where the Bomet governor and Gideon were joined by Narok Senator Stephen ole Ntutu signaling a wider political scheme that could also bring on board the Maa vote.

On Thursday, Myoot Kipsigis Council of Elders blamed the escalating political feud between the two Ruto's on the leaders' failure to heed wise counsel.

But Emanuel Talam, the deputy communications director at the DP's office, said there was nothing unique in the DP's latest response to Isaac and Gideon, saying: "The DP has always responded and there is nothing new in that. Even during the time of Pesa Mashinani, he responded. He responds and will still respond to them."

Standard Digital News - Kenya : Deputy President William Ruto faces rising rivalry in the Rift