Deputy President William Ruto moved to counter the growing Kanu wave in the South Rift, holding four public rallies across Kericho County to drum up support for the Jubilee candidate for the March 7 by-election.
The vacant Kericho Senatorial seat has become a battleground for the supremacy wars in the Rift Valley pitting Deputy President William Ruto’s Jubilee coalition against a resurgent party Kanu.
Big names in Rift Valley politics are spending big money on either camp to take their stand as the battle heats up for the heart and soul of a region that played a major part to put Jubilee in power. The senatorial seat, made vacant by the appointment of Charles Keter into government as Energy Cabinet Secretary, might prove a turning point in the region’s often abrasive politics as rival camps take turns to use their might, power and money to serenade the constituents.
Ruto, who has been facing revolt from some Rift Valley leaders in the recent weeks, seemed determined as he campaigned for Jubilee’s Aaron Cheruiyot for the Kericho Senatorial seat.
The DP and area MPs flew to the county in five helicopters a day after Kanu held a grand rally at Kapkatet Stadium in Bureti constituency. He kicked off his campaign in Kipkelion West constituency and later flew to Soin/Sigowet before leading a convoy of leaders to a rally in Belgut and Bureti constituencies.
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The DP made stopovers at the Kapsoit-Kisumu road junction, Kapsuset and Litein trading centres where he addressed huge crowds.
He said he had taken the initiative to ensure that Rift Valley remains united under the Jubilee coalition and dismissed his opponents as people without alternative plans for the region.
“We are in government and we have demonstrated our determination in improving the lives of the people but section of your leaders have been moving around spreading falsehoods yet they have not told you the alternative leadership they are going to offer,” he said. The DP has been under siege from a group leaders led by Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, Kanu chairman and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi and some MPs who are determined to wrestle the region from his grip (see separate story on page 19).
Defections
The DP was accompanied by CS Keter, Members of Parliament as well as governor Paul Chepkwony and his Narok counterpart Samuel ole Tunai.
At Moi Kipsitet Secondary School in Soin/Sigowet constituency, Ruto told residents that it would be foolhardy for the region to opt for the Opposition without just cause.
“Don’t play politics with the county’s development agenda. Jubilee government will fulfil all of its pledges. Don’t be misled,” he said.
Ruto broke protocol, preferring to be the first speaker. Ruto appeared to have appreciated concerns by residents that their leaders had let them down.
During a consultative meeting he held with opinion leaders, it emerged that the area MPs and governor were unpopular and might have contributed to the growing rebellion against the DP. Only Keter, Langat and the Jubilee Alliance Party’s Aaron Cheruiyot were allowed to address the meeting. “Those asking you to ditch Jubilee and join other political parties are lost in their plot and leading you to nowhere,” said Keter.
On Friday, thousands turned up at the Kapkatet Stadium to show support for Paul Sang, the Kanu candidate in the Kericho senatorial race. During the meeting, former Kipkelion MP Magerer Langat used the opportunity to defect to Kanu.
Sang listed development projects he had initiated as an MP arguing that he was the best candidate for the job.
“My track record speaks for itself and it demonstrates that I am not a corrupt leader. My only aim is to ensure that devolution is a success,” he said. Yesterday, some leaders from the North Rift dismissed claims that the ground had shifted against DP Ruto and insisted that he was still the unchallenged Rift Valley political kingpin.
“What we are experiencing in Kericho is a storm in the cup, it is a fact that after the by-election, Rift Valley will soon enjoy political normalcy,” said Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago speaking after attending a meeting at AIC Pioneer church in Eldoret.
Additional reporting by Silah Koskei and Michael Ollinga
