Coast Ruto allies warn Raila as DP tours Coast

DP William Ruto chats with Lamu East Shariff Ali Athman Msabweni Mp Suleiman Dori during the opening of Pate Girls Secondary School in Lamu East. [Photo: DPPS]

Deputy President William Ruto’s allies at the Coast have asked Opposition leader Raila Odinga to allow MPs to make free and independent political choices, including siding with the him (DP).

They claimed Raila had stifled dissent and refused to allow Opposition leaders to associate with Ruto and other national leaders yet he (Raila) was working with President Uhuru Kenyatta following the March 9 handshake.

Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa and Msambweni legislator Suleiman Dori, who have spearheaded the rebellion against ODM in Ruto’s support at the Coast, claimed they were ready for disciplinary action from their party, which has already recommended their expulsion.

"When we shake hands with the Deputy President, we are being expelled while Mr Odinga has shaken hands with President Kenyatta," said Jumwa.

She added: "We want to know what this handshake is all about? Is it for uniting Kenyans or a few people?"

The leaders spoke in Ruto’s presence in Lamu East yesterday where the DP began his tour. Today he goes to Kilifi with several ODM rebel MPs and their Jubilee counterparts. Fifteen legislators accompanied Ruto yesterday.

Addressing several rallies on Pate Island and Umoja Primary School in Lamu West, Ruto did not directly refer to the rebel MPs’ accusations or to the ODM leader but his allies criticised a proposal by the ODM leader to reduce the number of MCAs.

They also opposed proposals by Raila and other leaders for constitutional change through a referendum to alter the structure of Government.

Ruto opposed proposals to merge or scrap counties or electoral areas over low population, saying this would disenfranchise marginalised tribes.

He appealed to Environment ministry to lift the ban on harvesting of mangrove, saying such plants were a major source of income in Lamu.