Deputy President William Ruto seeks help to stem rebellion

DP William Ruto addresses residents of Kimende area of Lari constituency after attending a church service in the constituency. [PHOTO/DPPS]

Deputy President William Ruto has turned to veteran politicians from the Rift Valley and Kalenjin Council of Elders to help stem rebellion in the region.

Sources within the DP's circle said the leaders had been tasked to ensure they rally the community behind the DP who is facing a rebellion from Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and a host of other leaders.

Former Cabinet Minister Musa Sirma and Chairman of Kalenjin Council of Elders Maj (rtd) John Seii told The Standard yesterday they are working to reconcile the warring factions.

Sources suggested there had also been talks with former Cabinet Minister Nicholas Biwot and prominent politician-cum-businessman Jackson Kibor to help ward off the political rivalry at the Rift Valley.

PLAY ROLE

"The Deputy President is not leaving anything to chance and he has engaged a number of senior politicians from the region and you will be seeing them playing a role," said the source who identified Biwot and Kibor as some of the politicians.

Kibor, however, downplayed his meeting with the deputy president only saying he met with Ruto at his office for a friendly chat.

"I had gone to say hello to him. We did not discuss anything to do with helping him firefight the political war he is currently facing," Kibor said.

Sirma who was recently appointed to the Agricultural Development Corporation said they were out to ensure that the DP received maximum support from the community.

"It is common sense. We will not have have more than one candidate from the Kalenjin community in any national election.

What we are doing is to ensure everybody in the region is in the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP). It is true we have roles in setting this agenda," he said

Seii said the Kalenjin Council of Elders was not going to sit by and watch as the Kalenjin community disintegrates politically.

While admitting he was working to ensure the DP gets a head start in the region, Seii said it was necessary for the Kalenjin community to rally behind one candidate who was 'sell-able' which according to him is the DP.

"Well there have been a lot of things going on in the political arena. As a council, we want to ensure that the community remains intact since this is the only way to be sure of a strong political bargain," he said.

Biwot, one time powerful minister in retired President Moi's government and a member of parliament for three decades, was one of the speakers when President Uhuru Kenyatta visited Bomet County for a fundraiser in aid of a church.

LONG SPEECH

In a speech that took close to ten minutes, Biwot insisted the Deputy President is the current political kingpin in the Rift Valle.

"We have to respect those we voted in even if we think they are bad while still in office. When time comes you will decide, but for now we must respect them and the deputy president is the one uniting us Kalenjins," he said.