No one can expel Ruto from URP, says Kericho Senator Charles Keter

The United Republican Party (URP) does not plan to kick out Council of Governors' Chairman Isaac Ruto from the party, Kericho Senator Charles Keter has said.

Speaking during a fundraiser at Reresik African Inland Church in Bureti constituency at the weekend, Mr Keter disclosed that Governor Ruto was among the URP founders and no one could expel him from the party.

"Many people do not know URP was founded by Isaac Ruto and I and  no one who can chase him from the party. Disagreement on ideas doesn't mean that we disagree with the issues that the governors are raising," he said during the function attended by governors Ruto (Bomet), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) and Paul Chepkwony (Kericho).

The senator, nonetheless, said URP was still opposed to referendum calls by the governors and CORD.

Meanwhile, URP Kericho branch officials have warned that they might be forced to seek legal redress should the party's National Executive Council (NEC) continue occupying office as currently constituted without proper explanation from the party top brass.

In a signed statement by 14 URP senior officials drawn from the six constituencies in the county, the team led by County Organising Secretary Ben Siele claimed party elections were only conducted up to branch levels.

Siele said NEC members led by the party Chairman Elias Bare-Shill, Secretary General Fred Muteti and Executive Director David Koech who held a meeting in Nakuru recently were masqueraders and any deliberations they make would be treated as null and void.