Leaders call for truce in URP as DP Ruto says unity is what returned community to power

Deputy President William Ruto. [PHOTO: STANDARD/ FILE]

By CHARLES NGENO

BOMET, KENYA: Leaders from the South Rift have appealed to the Deputy President William Ruto and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto to work together for the benefit of the residents of the region.

The leaders drawn from Kericho, Bomet, Narok and Nakuru Counties said the two leaders should complement each other instead of fighting each other.

The leaders were senators Charles Keter (Kericho), Wilfred Lessan (Bomet), Liza Chelule (Nominated) MPs Benard Bett (Bomet East), Johana Ngeno (Emurua Dikirr), Paul Bii (Chepalungu), Joyce Laboso (Sotik) Leonard Sang (Bureti), former MPs Nick Salat and Beatrice Kones.

Speaking in Kembu, Bomet County during a fundraiser in aid of traders who lost their property to an inferno two weeks ago, the leaders called on the two unite their supporters to avoid a split in the United Republican Party (URP).

Keter said the region stand to benefit a lot if the two leaders speak with one voice. “We are in a ruling coalition and we are not going to allow any of these two leaders to go to the opposition. We did not get anything in the last coalition government,” said Keter.

While pledging support for the two leaders Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso said the both leaders have the mandate of the electorate and they have the onus of delivering on their campaign pledges.

“The pledge by these two leaders to create employment and fight poverty among our people cannot be realized if they begin fighting each other. We are calling for a truce,” said Laboso.

Bett called on the two to respect each other saying the constitution has clearly defined the roles of the national and county governments.

“As a partner in the Jubilee coalition URP must speak with one voice. We ask the deputy president and the governor to unite so that we ca be respected by other communities. We want to see the two governments complimenting each other instead of the recent squabbles we have been witnessing in the recent past,” said Bett.

On his part, Ngeno said the two have potentials of leading this country but they need the support of each other. “We must rally our support behind these two leaders but that can only happen if the two are united. They must stop pulling in different directions,” said Ngeno.

On his part governor Ruto sought to exonerate himself from blame saying the push to have more funds devolved was driven by the electorate.

“When you hear me demanding for more funds, let it not be misconstrued to mean that I'm fighting the national government. I’m only expressing what the people at the grass root are asking for,” said Ruto.

When he took to the podium the deputy president called for respect among leaders noting that if they work as a team they will achieve a lot.

“With the exit of Moi many believed that it will take long before we come back to power. We proved the doubting Thomases wrong when we voted as a block for URP. That unity is what can take us to the helm of the country’s leadership,” said deputy president Ruto.