Governor Ruto taunts rivals as Laboso entry for Bomet seat stirs up South Rift politics

**Deputy President William Ruto (left) chats with Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto at Bomet Grounds during the fundraiser in aid of the Africa Gospel Church at the weekend. [PHOTO: BONIFACE THUKU/STANDARD]**

Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso’s decision to contest the Bomet gubernatorial seat in 2017 has stirred fresh political wars in the South Rift.

And matters are getting complicated for the vocal Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto as his rival and competitor for the seat in the last election, Julius Kones, has also declared interest in the seat.

Dr Kones, currently the National Water Conservation and Corporation chairman, lost narrowly to Ruto in 2013 and has declared he will give the governor a run for his money in 2017.

Ruto’s troubles are compounded by the bad blood between him and Deputy President William Ruto, who the governor’s supporters believe is grooming Laboso and Kones.

Daggers are drawn in the United Republican Party (URP) with analysts predicting heightened political activity in the region in the coming days and a tough political contest in 2017.

Leaders from the region have already taken positions and aligned themselves either with Isaac Ruto or Laboso, as politicians and pundits fear the realignment is likely to widen the rift between the Deputy President and the outspoken governor.

Political odds

“Definitely Governor Ruto will not take it lying down. He knows the odds are against him especially after he opposed formation of the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) and teamed up with Kanu leaders to discredit the Jubilee government,” says Simon arap Numba, a seasoned political activist.

Governor Ruto was reluctant to comment on the bid to unseat him, instead referring The Standard on Sunday to his development record, which he described as impeccable.

Pushed further, the governor, who has faced strong opposition from leaders allied to the DP, dismissed his opponents and warned them that he is not scared by the sudden interest in his seat, adding he sees the hand of URP party leaders in the unfolding drama.

“Political differences should not be used to sow seed of discord among people of the South Rift region. The URP leadership has always been keen to finish me politically and that is what it hopes to achieve by sponsoring candidates to contest against me. Let us meet in the ballot, the many the merrier,” said the governor.

Most URP leaders on the Deputy President’s side in the region have publicly endorsed Laboso’s candidature for the gubernatorial seat, claiming Governor Ruto has lost touch with the electorate.

Bomet Central MP Ronald Tonui claims the decision by Laboso to run came after wide consultations with residents of Bomet County. It was agreed one person be fronted to dethrone Governor Ruto.

“He has adopted a belligerent stand by frequently attacking other leaders and now the people of Bomet have spoken with one voice that they will be supporting Laboso for the governorship. We totally support the people of Bomet on this,” Mr Tonui told The Standard on Sunday.

It is understood that the decision to front Laboso came as a result of the differences between the DP and the governor largely on two accounts: devolution and future of the region in national politics.

Since the last General Election, Governor Ruto, who until recently was the chairman of the Council of Governors, has been fearless in defending devolution with claims that President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration was out to frustrate counties. The DP, on the other hand, has maintained that the government is committed to strengthening counties.

Those supporting the Deputy President argue his opponents are diminishing his chances of succeeding the President in 2022.

The expression of interest by Laboso has split local politicians but also united elected leaders especially those who have had differences with Governor Ruto. Those supporting the move argue it will bolster the support base for the Deputy President and keep the governor under check.

MPs Bernard Bett (Bomet East), Paul Bii (Chepalungu) and Sammy Koech (Konoin) say Laboso has been ranked as the best performing MP in the South Rift, thus the most appropriate person to lead Bomet.

“Laboso has been steadfast in supporting the Jubilee leadership and in particular the Deputy President. Her candidature in the next election is welcome. She has come out as a leader who reaches out to all other elected leaders. That is the type of leader we need in Bomet,” says Bett.

Bii says Laboso will set the record as the first woman governor from Bomet just as she did when she was elected Deputy Speaker in the National Assembly.

“We have no doubt in her ability. Her election as governor would boost the political clout of the Deputy President because the region shall be rallying behind individuals who will be in the DP’s line up,” he says.

He reasons that Laboso has been making serious inroads in the county and has won the hearts of women who have been mostly politically passive, adding that Laboso’s ideas resonate well with a majority of the people. “She is reasonable and willing to dialogue with others. She is not combative but approachable,” he says.

Kapletundo MCA Bernard Ng’eno says her track record is sterling adding that she is likely to get 100 per cent support from her Sotik Constituency where the implementation of CDF projects has been impressive.

“Apart from the political front, Laboso’s entry would boost the role of women in society because they will have a role model to look up to. So far she has not disappointed the women folk,” says Ngeno.

But Longisa MCA Stephen Changmorik and his Silibwet Township counterpart Robert Metet disagree with those supporting Laboso because they say she is no match for Governor Ruto.

They say Laboso should fight to retain her seat as MP and possibly contest the Speaker’s seat in the next Parliament.

“Ruto has come out as an independent and courageous leader, a person who cannot be swayed for political expediencies. So far, Bomet has been ranked among the best performing counties and anyone who would want to dislodge him will have an uphill task,” says Changmorik.

He says Ruto’s opponents have tried to paint him as belligerent and dictatorial but such attempts have come to naught.

“People on the ground have understood all these schemes. They won’t support anyone who is out to besmirch the name of their governor,” says Changmorik.

Analysts say the development in Bomet could be a blessing or a curse for Governor Ruto who has been waging a serious political war against the Deputy President.

“He may turn out a hero of some kind and earn sympathy from voters or be rejected altogether if he quits the Jubilee Alliance and joins another political outfit,” observes arap Numba.

“The governor has earned himself admiration from communities which support devolution,” he says

New challenge?

Speaking in Sotik town when she launched Sotik constituency strategic plan for the year 2014-2017, Laboso said she would not let down the electorate who want to change the leadership of the county.

“I am under pressure from my colleagues in the National Assembly to be the next and first woman Speaker but the interest of the people of Bomet supersedes that and therefore I am set and ready for the challenge,” she declared.

She added: “Its my pledge not to let down the people of Bomet. And since we have attained what we set for ourselves since I took over in 2008, it is time to move another step.”

There are indications that should Ruto find it impossible to operate within URP or the Jubilee coalition, he could join former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in ODM or decamp to UDM.

A few months ago, the Bomet County boss openly taunted the Jubilee coalition for losing the Kajiado Central by-election to CORD.

He has also been calling on the Jubilee administration to draw lessons from Nigeria’s presidential elections on how corruption and insecurity led to President Goodluck Jonathan losing to President Mohammadu Buhari. He has predicted that the same fate would befall JAP in the next General Election.