MPs accuse Ruto of causing rift in Jubilee and blaming Raila

Nominated MP Maina Kamanda, Tiaty MP William Kamket, Kiambu Woman Rep Gathoni wa Muchomba and Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny at ACK St Anne's Parish, Mwiki. [David Njaaga]

Some MPs from both sides of the political divide have accused Deputy President William Ruto of causing a rift in the Jubilee Party and blaming it on Opposition leader Raila Odinga.

The leaders dared those against President Uhuru Kenyatta’s war on graft and the handshake to walk out of the party rather than keep stoking incessant wrangles.

MPs Maina Kamanda (nominated), William Kamket (Tiaty), Joshua Kutuny (Cherengany), Maoka Maore (Igembe South), Anthony Oluoch (Mathare), Gathoni Wamucomba (Kiambu Woman Rep), Ruth Wangari (Kigumo), Simba Arati (Dagoreti North), Millie Odhiambo (Suba South), TJ Kajwang (Ruaraka), Ngunjiri Wambugu (Nyeri) and Mercy Gakuya (Kasarani) spoke in Nairobi yesterday.

The legislators accused Ruto of sponsoring some legislators to oppose the fight against corruption and the handshake between the President and Raila.

“Ruto should stop saying Raila is responsible for the rift in Jubilee because he himself is responsible for causing division within the party. He is trying to incite and turn some members of Jubilee against President Uhuru Kenyatta and then blame it on Raila Odinga, but he will not succeed,” said Mr Kamanda.

He claimed Ruto was demonising the handshake for selfish interests, despite it restoring peace and economic prosperity.

Mr Kutuny accused Ruto of not having the nation’s interest at heart and warned that there would be dire consequences should he continue with his attacks on the two leaders.

He said this was based on claims that Ruto declined Raila’s advances for a handshake four times.

“Stop attacking Raila in the morning and in the evening attacking Uhuru Kenyatta. If you and Uhuru united after 2007 when houses were burned down and blood shed, then what is stopping President Kenyatta and Raila from uniting to send you home,” Kutuny posed.

Mr Wambugu acknowledged the rift in the party but blamed it on a few individuals “keen on fighting the handshake”.

He said there was a group going round claiming to be supporting the President’s agenda, yet their actions were the exact opposite.

“As Jubilee, we are one party, but not all of us are working together. I fail to understand why some people are still fighting Raila Odinga yet the elections are over,” said Wambugu.

Mr Kamket said there were plans to de-whip MPs allied to Ruto in the National Assembly and the Senate for their continued defiance of the President’s directive on the war on graft and the handshake.

“Time for talk is over. Those who are not following what the President is saying should begin their journey out of the Government,” Kamket said.

Kutuny called on the Government to reinstate the security detail for Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika and MPs Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu), Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati) and Alice Wahome (Kandara).

“Even though they appear to have decamped to the Opposition, they are still elected leaders serving their people,” said Kutuny.  

The security officers assigned to the five leaders were recalled at the weekend in what was termed political persecution.

While the leaders claim the move is political, police said the withdrawal of security officers was in order. The five leaders are allied to the DP.