Governor Isaac Ruto threatens to replace deputy in 2017 power row

Governor Isaac Ruto. He has threatened to appoint one of his executives to sit in the office of his deputy. (PHOTO: FILE/ STANDARD)

Governor Isaac Ruto has threatened to appoint one of his executives to sit in the office of his deputy.

Mr Ruto has accused his deputy, Stephen Mutai, of absconding duty to campaign across the county in an effort to unseat him in 2017.

“I am considering appointing one of my executives to sit at the office of the deputy governor and serve the public while he is out campaigning,” Ruto said during a talk show in one of the vernacular radio stations.

Speaking during the morning talk show, the governor said he had stopped engaging Mr Mutai in official functions due to what he termed as conflict of interest.

“I think since he has declared that he wants to be the next governor, it is only fair that I cannot send my fellow governor to represent me,” Ruto said.

He claimed his deputy was not turning up for duties despite drawing public funds.

Docket without duties

Mutai has, however, defended himself saying his office had been starved of finances thereby incapacitating his ability to work as the deputy governor.

Speaking to the Press in Bomet town, Mutai said his office had been stripped of all the privileges for the last two years, leaving him with nothing to do.

“What the governor has subjected me and my officers is despicable and it is sad to hear him say that I am absconding duty,” Mutai said.

The deputy governor has written a protest letter to the assembly Speaker Geoffrey Kipng’etich demanding a budget for his office.

“ I have been in office all through, CCTV footage should be replayed, and Ruto is only taking advantage to try hide what has been committed to me and my officers over the last two years,” he said.

He said it was mischievous for the governor to accuse him of absconding duty to the public when he had handicapped him financially.

“My car has been having mechanical problems and my attempts to have it taken for service has been futile. My drivers have constantly been told to wait,” he claimed.

Citing the recent Devolution conference, Mutai said his attempts to seek facilitation to attend the function in Meru were turned down.

County Communications Director Bii Samoei said funds to Mutai’s office of have never been stopped as claimed.

The difference pitting the two has found its was way to the floor of the assembly after Longisa MCA Stephen Changmorik yesterday tabled a motion seeking to know why the deputy governor was not turning up for work.

Mutai has linked his woes to the refusal to back the newly formed Chama Cha Mashinani headed by Ruto.

“I choose to remain in Jubilee and I think he is not happy. He has decided to fight me politically,” he said.