Uhuru accuses media of fanning rivalry among URP leaders

Deputy President William Ruto (right) speaks with Governor Isaac Ruto (centre) and former minister Nicholas Biwott at Bomet Green Stadium during a funds drive for African Gospel Church. [PHOTO: BONIFACE THUKU/Standard]

President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday turned his anger on Kenya’s print media and accused it for deliberately fanning the rivalry between his deputy William Ruto and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto.

For the second time since his election two years ago, an agitated president Kenyatta attempted to rubbish Kenya’s media with his claims that newspapers are only good enough for wrapping meat in butcheries, as he appealed to United Republican Party (URP) leaders in the South Rift region to back the DP.

“Nitarudia kusema kila siku kwamba gazeti ni ya kufunga nyama (I will repeat what I said before that newspapers are meant for wrapping meat),” he said.

Uhuru alleged that the media was fueling the crisis in the Jubilee government through consistent reporting on the wrangles between the coalition’s leaders in URP.

The President said the supremacy war pitting his deputy against a section of leaders in the South Rift led by the Bomet governor was unnecessary and disruptive to the ruling Jubilee coalition.

The vicious political row in the region that has sucked in Members of Parliament, senators and members of the Bomet County Assembly.

President Kenyatta called for respect among the region’s leaders and said he had confidence in his deputy.

“As leaders elected in one coalition, we must work together in unity and avoid unnecessary quarrels. We cannot fulfill the promises we made to the people who elected us if we continue with the quarrels,” said President Kenyatta at a meeting in Bomet County.

He said the wrangles in URP were undermining the Jubilee government’s development agenda and must end to allow the coalition implement its manifesto.

“I agree that there are differences of opinion, but that must not be allowed to divide us. Let us respect each other as leaders because were elected on the same manifesto,” said the president.

An agitated Uhuru called on the leaders from the region to engage each other in private instead of washing their dirty linen in public.

Confrontational politics

He said he was tired of reading in newspapers every day about the political wrangles in the South Rift region adding that days of confrontational politics were long gone.

The President at the same time faulted some governors who have refused to receive hospital equipment donated by his government to the counties.

He appealed to them to allow the national government build the hospitals, which would be handed over to the county governments to manage.

“My government has put in place relevant laws that will see devolution succeed. I appeal to the governors to receive these facilities because it will improve the lives of our people.” He said

On the eviction of people from the Mau Forest that saw politicians from the region criticise the Government over the move, the President defended his government but promised the evictees that they would be resettled.

“We will treat everybody with respect and there will be no more burning of houses. The two levels of government have come up with a clear cut line and tea will be planted to act as a buffer zone to deter future encroachment,” said the President

Uhuru was in Bomet to raise funds for the African Gospel Church after a Sunday service at the Bomet Green Stadium.

The meeting brought together leaders from the South Rift region including governors Ruto, Paul Chepkwony (Kericho), Samuel Tunai (Narok), senators Charles Keter (Kericho) and Wilfred Lesan and some 32 MPs from the ruling coalition.

The DP defended himself against allegations that the URP wing of the Jubilee coalition was getting a raw deal in government, saying he did not join President Kenyatta in government to fight over positions.

“Mr Kenyatta and I were not forced to form this Government. I joined him on own volition. The Government belongs to all of us,”  said the DP.

He told his critics to learn from the former President Daniel arap Moi who was loyal to the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and later succeeded him to lead the country for 24 years.

“If you are not patient enough to be led, then you don’t have what it takes,” said Ruto.

But the Bomet Governor steered clear of politics and urged the two levels of government to work together.

“Let’s talk issues that unite us because if we could talk, I am sure we will find a solution to the evils that are affecting us as a country,” he said

He asked President Kenyatta to address plummeting tea prices and looming famine in the region.

—Reports by Steve Mkawale, Charles Ngeno and Gilbert Kimutai