Ruto vows to punish rivals out to divide Rift Valley votes come 2017

Deputy President William Ruto addresses residents during the homecoming for Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot at Kericho Teachers Training College yesterday. [PHOTO: DPPS]

Deputy President William Ruto has warned his detractors in Rift Valley out to divide the Kalenjin community, to brace themselves for a bruising political battle.

Ruto vowed to ensure ‘harsh punishment’ for rebels who have gone against the Jubilee party's aspirations come 2017.

The DP spoke yesterday during the launch of construction of Tablotin- Kabianga-premier road, before he headed to Kericho Teachers Training College (KTTC) for a thanksgiving for Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot.

He said he will not sit back and allow members of the Kalenjin community to be misled and divided.

“Any politician scheming to divide members of the Kalenjin community will not get away with it. I won’t allow it. What I want is for members of the community and their leaders to walk and work together because there is a lot of work that needs to be done,” said Ruto.

The DP thanked Kericho residents for backing Jubilee in the Kericho Senate by-election that saw the ruling coalition retain the seat formerly held by Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter.

Political mistake

“Kericho residents voted wisely. Members of the Kipsigis community refused to allow themselves to be a laughingstock because had they voted for Kanu, the world would have wondered how a community which is close to ascending to the presidency in 2022 could make such a foolish political mistake,” said Ruto.

Earlier, Ruto attended a thanksgiving in Kapsabet Girls’ High School, Nandi County.

He laughed off recent efforts by Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, MPs Alfred Keter (Nandi-Hills) and Oscar Sudi (Kapseret) to cause ‘disunity in the region’ terming them ‘lost sheep’ that had now ‘lost face with the government and opposition.’

The DP accused the rebels of ‘hypocritically attempting to steer the Rift community’ to the opposition, and asked constituents to ignore them.

Ruto said: “It is hypocritical to steer the entire community to the opposition while the rest of the voting blocs are working day and night to be in the government; their punishment is nigh. Tutawapiga viboko karibuni.”

The DP nonetheless extended an olive branch to the rebels. “Come and let us work together in jubilee. I am asking the group to come so that we can speak in one voice so that our people can take a common political route. Let us work together for this generations and those to come, we cannot fragment ourselves now because we will be taking our people in the wrong direction,” he said.

The DP at the same time urged residents to register as voters in large numbers. “The community’s journey to the presidency in the 2022 General Election has just begun. In 2017 we are going to support President Uhuru Kenyatta then we move to my turn in the 2022 General Election. This can only be done through registering as voters,” he said.

Speaking at KTTC, Mr Cheruiyot who struggled to fight back tears of joy expressed gratitude to Kericho residents and the DP for believing in his vision right from the day he clinched the Jubilee party ticket until he eventually bagged the Senate seat.

“I still can’t believe that I am the senator. Sometimes I happen to be walking along the streets of Nairobi and someone shouts “senator!” I also look around, it takes a while for my mind to register that I am the one being referred to. What I now want is prayers for God to grant me wisdom as I settle down to work,” he said.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso claimed that the Bomet governor had misused county funds and used the opportunity to declare her interest in the seat in the 2017 General Election.

Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki said Kericho residents had put the DPs critics to shame.

Elgeiyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen reminded the rebels  that the DP was the only anointed leader in Rift Valley and they must rally behind him.

 - Additional reporting Rael Jelimo