North Rift elders fault Sudi's remarks on Uhuru

Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi addresses the press in Eldoret where he alluded to the breaking up of Jubilee party. Sudi noted that the charges brought against Treasury Cabnet Secretary was politically instigated. [Standard]

Elders drawn from two North Rift counties have condemned remarks by Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi that President Uhuru Kenyatta should resign for allegedly failing to lead the country diligently.

At least 100 elders from Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu yesterday apologised to the Head of State and said Mr Sudi’s remarks should not be construed to be the position of the Kalenjin community.

Last Wednesday, at a media briefing, Sudi said the Jubilee Government "has failed Kenyans and it is high time the president vacates office because he can no longer execute his mandate diligently".

Speaking during a press conference in Eldoret, the elders described the MP's remarks as 'shocking and reckless', adding that it went against the community’s culture to insult leaders of the President's stature.

“We disassociate ourselves from the careless utterances of some of our elected leaders made in Kesses Constituency of Uasin Gishu recently. Theirs is to undermine the efforts made by the Government in fighting corruption,” they said in a statement read by Keiyo elder Yusuf Keitany.

Mr Keitany told elected leaders from the Rift region to support President Kenyatta in the fight against graft and to stop undermining his efforts through reckless remarks.

“We apologise to the President and assure him that what was said was not the community's position. We tell such leaders to stop making reckless sentiments. We were taught to respect leaders and not to insult them."

Stephen Kipkech, a retired military officer, described Sudi's remarks as 'disturbing and disrespectful'. “The President has a lot of work and is under stress. We would like leaders in his party to encourage him through good messages, not insults."

Julius Chepsoi from Kimwarer said the remarks directed at Uhuru were triggered by his war against graft. “We want the President to understand that the sentiments made in Kapseret are propaganda messages designed by persons behind major scandals in the country,” he claimed.