Ruto in crisis meeting with URP officials

BY ISAAC ONGIRI

AND BEAUTTAH OMANGA

Eldoret North MP William Ruto was last night set to meet Rift Valley MPs for crisis talks in an attempt to avert a looming split within his new United Republican Party (URP).

Mr Ruto called the meeting even as a section of his warring allies threatened to block former Speaker Francis ole Kaparo from taking over as URP chairman over an internal dispute pitting Belgut MP Charles Keter and his Chepalungu counterpart Isaac Ruto.

A group of disgruntled party officials were yesterday planning to write to the Registrar of Political Parties to ask that a list presented by Kaparo’s group for provisional registration on Monday this week be ignored.

There is also a demand from some quarters within the party that Kaparo should resign as chairman of National Environment Management Authority (Nema) before he can be officially registered as party chairman.

Mr Keter has called a meeting of all Kipsigis leaders in Kericho town on Friday to discuss the issue.

"Yes, I have called a meeting in Kericho to bring together all leaders including to discuss serious in-house issues and development," Keter confirmed.

The MP is bitter that the Eldoret North MP endorsed a proposal by Ruto to have three interim officials who helped him register URP replaced, with Kaparo becoming chairman, and also to have sections of the constitution used by interim officials, which was borrowed from United Democratic Movement amended.

"Hon Member, you are invited to a very important consultative meeting tomorrow (yesterday) from 6pm at Hon Ruto’s home, Karen. Please attend without fail," read a text message sent to MPs by Mosop MP David Koech. The venue was later changed to International Bible Society.

Raging wrangles

On Wednesday, it emerged that a Keter ally, Victor Biegon, who was registered as secretary general when the party first sought provisional registration and is in possession of the party’s statutory documents, has declined to give up his seat to a new set of officials.

Nixon Korir, who was initially registered as chairman and Mohamed Dualle provisionally registered as the treasurer have agreed to give up their seats to Kaparo’s group.

Though Kaparo confirmed knowledge of the raging wrangles within the party, he said he wanted to keep a low profile over the matter.

"I do not want to be drawn into personal wrangles pitting the two leaders, as for whether I should resign as chairman of Nema, I think I know what to do in accordance with the law," said Kaparo.

On Wednesday, Isaac met a group of allies at Milimani hotel in Nairobi where they accused Keter of an attempt to hijack the party.

The Chepalungu MP claimed that Keter was given a list of five individuals who were to be registered as provisional office holders, but the MP replaced two.