Aden Duale, Charles Keter warn Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto against pushing for referendum

By NIKKO TANUI

KENYA: The Government is exploring ways of dealing with Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto.

Speaking in Kericho County during a fund raising event at Musaria Secondary School in Soin/Sigowet Constituency, Leader of Majority Aden Duale said Jubilee leaders will talk to Ruto, who he claimed is becoming a distraction.

He wondered why the governor has turned around to oppose his party. Duale dared Ruto to go on with his plans if he believes he has support. “Governor Isaac Ruto, we are ready for you, continue with the referendum crusade and we will meet you in the battlefield,” Duale said. He claimed the Council of Governors’ chairman was working with the opposition.

Kericho Senator Charles Keter said the Bomet Governor had been tricked into leading the calls for a referendum and urged him to look back and realise that he is alone in the mission.

“He should look back and see where his sisters and brothers are standing and realise he is walking on his own,” Keter said.

He revealed they are talking to Ruto and he will soon abandon his referendum calls.

“I will be among those who will broker a deal with Ruto,” he said.

Oversee governors

He said Parliament often puts ministers to task and urged Senate to oversee all governors. “We want Senate to take the responsibility and put governors to task and demand to know how they are spending public money,” he said.

He reminded Ruto that he owes his win to President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto. “Alongside deputy president, we went to Bomet to campaign for Ruto when we would have easily backed his challenger Dr Julius Kones,” he said.

“We are telling Ruto that he has begun dancing to a song whose rhythm and tune he doesn’t understand,” he added.

He noted scores of governors from Rift Valley areas of Nakuru, Narok, Uasin Ngishu, Baringo, and Elgeyo Marakwet have distanced themselves from referendum calls.

“We are telling Ruto we are the law makers and he is now a CEO of Bomet County. The referendum question when it will come to Parliament we can even amend it and send him packing,” he said.

He told the council of governors’ chairman not to be misled that he can inherit deputy president Ruto’s political mantle, because according to African traditions, one cannot inherit wealth and leadership when there is no vacuum.

A total of Sh2 million was raised to buy a bus for the school.