Sirma hints he'll ditch party for Ruto

By EDWIN CHESEREK

Nominated MP Musa Sirma has hinted that he might quit ODM, deepening political woes the Prime Minister Raila Odinga was facing.

Mr Sirma, a close ally of Raila from Rift Valley, reportedly told a funds drive meeting in Eldoret East constituency yesterday he was marking time before he quits the party.

The MP said suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto, who has broken ranks with Raila, was his choice for presidency.

Sirma fell short of announcing that he had joined Ruto’s camp, but added that the Eldoret North MP was his close friend and that he would not abandon him.

Sirma arrived at Moiben Catholic Church in Ruto’s car driven by Ruto’s official driver.

A source told The Standard Sirma and Ruto met at Eldoret Sports Club in the morning before the MP proceeded to the function while Ruto went back to Nairobi.

"I know people came here to hear that Sirma has defected from ODM. I am already with my community. What kind of defection do you want to hear from me?" posed Sirma in vernacular.

He disclosed that MPs from the region had hatched a scheme to wreck the party and leave when it is a shell.

"We can’t leave ODM now. There are so many benefits we are yet to get from the party. We must wreck it to ensure that it disintegrates before we leave," he added.

He said he would soon join hands with Ruto and other MPs allied to him and decide the political destiny of the community. Sirma’s statement comes three days after Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei announced that she had ditched Raila. Sirma, however, told Rift Valley leaders to be wary of leaders they are working with.

"We should be careful with the KKK thing because we are being used to help some people retain power."