Ruto turns to dialogue to stem discord in URP

Wiliam Ruto (2nd right) Ekwe Ethuro (2nd right) during a URP party function

Rift Valley, Kenya: The Rift Valley region has for the past one and a half months experienced some harmony among leaders, thanks to behind-the-scenes manoeuvres by Deputy President William Ruto.

Even the most vocal URP MPs are now easing off on criticisms against the Jubilee administration. Political pundits attribute the change of heart to Ruto‘s decision to take full control of his political bedrock of the Rift Valley.

The former Eldoret North MP has changed tack and decided to adopt dialogue as opposed to tough talk to tame some leaders who had previously criticised him for not doing enough to get more out of the Jubilee government.

The Standard on Sunday can now reveal that series of meetings with political leaders in the region at a Nairobi hotel brought these leaders in line.

A meeting between the Deputy President, presidential adviser Joshua Kuttuny and some  influential businessmen from the Rift Valley set the tone for a series of meetings that yielded an agreement that Rift Valley political leaders should speak in one voice.

Before this, the relationship between influential politicians in the region and local powerful businessmen had had been lukewarm.

The key agenda, according to the those who attended the Nairobi meeting, was to defuse tensions and public criticisms among leaders.

Critics of the Jubilee government have toned down, with some drawn from URP maintaining that some of their demands are still being addressed.

Dissent by some leaders in the region prompted President Uhuru Kenyatta to issue a warning while visiting Nandi County last week. Without naming anyone, Uhuru said leaders allied to Jubilee must stick to its manifesto and shun bickering which, he said, had stalled development and delivery of services to the public.

He said Jubilee had been formed by URP and other affiliate parties, and they must all toe the line. "You were elected because you ran on a Jubilee ticket. It is hypocritical for you to criticise the same manifesto you pledged to uphold during elections,“ he said.

Nandi Hills legislator Alfred Keter has been one of the most fierce critics of Jubilee. He has frequently criticised the government for allegedly failing to act in the public interest.

Kuttuny attributes the harmony in the Rift Valley to frequent meetings held between  URP leaders. "After the meeting we held with Ruto,   the results are now  being felt,“ he said.

He said he had constantly been in touch with the Nandi Hills MP and other rebellious URP leaders. "As the political adviser to the President, I have also reached out to those outside the Jubilee coalition, trying to win them over to support the government because the public deserves the best from all of us,“ he said.

Kuttuny insists that Keter and his team are the bedrock of Jubilee and therefore should speak and be heard. "We agreed that as leaders, we ought to resolve our political differences in an amicable manner and shun the tendency of hitting at each other in the media," he said.

He insisted that the Jubilee government has been keen to address the concerns raised of Rift Valley leaders, particularly those highlighted by the Nandi Hills legislator.

“Uhuru‘s government has set up funds for road construction and contractors are on the ground in the key areas that were highlighted by the leaders. This is a sign that their demands were heard,” he added.

But Keter, who insisted he has not been silenced, said he would continue to speak for the rights of the public whenever the need arises. “You cannot make noise each time. We are giving the government time to work on addressing the demands raised by the public,” he said.

He maintained the government had still not addressed complaints raised by milk and tea farmers over pricing, but said the regular  meetings with Kuttuny had been useful.

Chesumei legislator Elijah Lagat  admitted that Jubilee was finally fulfilling some of its development promises in the Rift Valley region.

The MP, who is Keter's ally, said construction at Chepterit-Baraton and Mosoriot-Ainabkoi roads are projects that are currently being overseen the government and this had impressed area residents.

"We criticised the government over the slow pace of implementing projects but  we are pleased  that they listened to our demands. We have realised that the Jubilee administration acts only when one complains,“ he said.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, however, most leaders were no longer  interested in politicking and were full engaged in service delivery.

He said added reality is currently dawning on some of the leaders who have been criticising the government that they have limited time left to deliver the pledges they made to the electorate.

Murkomen maintained that  those who continue to criticise the government have realised some of the issues they have raised were moot.

For the Jubilee administration to work well, leaders ought to support Uhuru and Ruto,     Murkomen added.

In the past, leaders from the region have complained that some of the key government appointments have favoured those in TNA at the expense of URP. They recently took issue with the Executive after National Youth Service Director General Kilimo Rugut was replaced by Dr Nelson Githinji and said they would back a censure motion against Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru who they accused of being responsible for replacing Rugut. The mover of the motion later withdrew the motion.